Google announced its decision to stop the “Gems” feature in the artificial intelligence application “Gemini”, which allowed users to create custom assistants to carry out specific tasks, and to replace it with a new system called “Skills”.
According to a report published by the “TechCrunch” website, this change will take effect as of November 17, 2026. The company confirmed that all “Gems” assistants created by users will be automatically migrated by “Google” to the “Skills” format, relieving users of any manual procedure to complete the transition process, with the current feature remaining available for use until the final transition date.
It is noteworthy that Google had launched the “Gems” feature in 2024 to enable users to customize “Gemini” to carry out repetitive tasks without the need to re-enter instructions every time. The feature included ready-made assistants such as a learning coach, brainstorming assistant, career mentor, programming partner and editor, as well as the ability to create personal assistants such as a running coach, nutritionist or vacation planner, with the option to share them to enhance the spread of the application.
Regarding the new working mechanism, Google explained that using the “Skills” system will require the user to enter the slash mark (/) within the conversation window, then choose the required skill. The TechCrunch report indicates that this interface may seem less smooth to the average user compared to writing direct requests in traditional chatbots.
This trend comes within the framework of major technology companies’ efforts to develop broader artificial intelligence agents that are more capable of carrying out various tasks, in conjunction with Google’s ongoing efforts to reorganize Gemini’s features and integrate them into newer system architectures.
