Google Is Killing Gems, 'Skills' Replaces It in the Gemini App This November

Google is discontinuing Gemini Gems and now alerting users about the transition towards Skills. As reported by 9to5Google over the weekend, the transition is set to begin on November 17, 2026.

Google is replacing Gemini Gems with Skills

The change was first spotted in the Gemini app, where the Gems manager now displays a notice saying, “Gems will become skills starting Nov 17, 2026.” Users can continue using their Gems until they are migrated.

Gems launched in 2024 as a way to create customized versions of Gemini with their own instructions and preferences. Google currently describes them as customized versions of Gemini designed to handle repetitive tasks or provide expertise in specific areas.

Skills are designed around a similar idea, but Google is now building them into the newer Gemini Spark experience. Google says a Skill can store instructions and preferences for recurring tasks, while Gemini can automatically recognize when a Skill is relevant, or users can explicitly select one. Multiple Skills can also be combined for a single workflow.

There is one important catch. Google’s official documentation says Skills are available through Gemini Spark and require a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription. So, it’s unclear whether Skills will remain under the paid plan or will be free for every user.

For existing Gems, however, the important date is November 17. Google says the migration will happen automatically, so users do not need to manually rebuild their custom assistants. All that said, Gems are not simply disappearing. Google is folding them into Skills as Gemini moves toward its newer agent-focused experience.

In other Google news, the Gemini 4 release may be closer than expected after a new hint from DeepMind’s chief. Meanwhile, YouTube is using Gemini AI to create custom feeds based on user prompts.