Google Gems are becoming “Skills” within Ask Gemini & Gemini

Have you seen the headline: Google is retiring Gemini Gems starting November 17, 2026?

What’s changing?
Gems, the custom Gemini assistants you set up with saved instructions and files, are being replaced by a new feature called skills. Skills work much like Gems: they’re reusable instructions that tailor how Gemini handles a recurring task. The biggest difference is how you use them. Instead of opening a Gem from the sidebar, you type / follow the skill’s name in Gemini chat or Ask Gemini. Wanting to know more about Skills? Here is a link with directions.

Do I need to do anything?
Not yet. When the time comes, Google will automatically convert your Gems, along with supported files, into skills. In the meantime, a few small steps will protect your work:

• Save your instructions. Open each Gem you rely on, click Edit, and copy the instructions into a Google Doc.
• Keep copies of knowledge files. If a Gem uses uploaded files, make sure you have your own copy of each one.
• Take stock. Jot down which Gems you actually use. This is a good moment to clean out the ones you don’t.

Keep in mind

• Some Gem tools don’t work with skills yet, including Canvas, Deep Research, and Guided Learning. If a Gem you rely on uses one of these, check on it after it converts.
• Google says skills will pick up familiar Gem features, like sharing and adding files from Drive, in the coming weeks.
• Timelines can shift. Google has already moved these dates once, and I’ll share updates in the Channel as the transition gets closer.

Questions about Gems, skills or anything AI? Reach out to Dr. Tiffanie Zaugg, Assistive Technology/AI Specialist, at tzaugg@centralriversaea.org.