Gemini Gems are going away soon; here's how you should get ready

The long-standing Google Gemini Gems are set to retire, prompting users to prepare for the transition. The first stage will begin on November 17, 2026, with personal Google accounts for users 18 and older affected first. Google Workspace accounts will follow next year. Google has assured users that existing Gems will be automatically migrated, but those containing personal files may require manual effort.

Personal accounts under 18 have a later transition date, while Google Workspace users can expect a smoother transition, with Gems moving to the Settings panel on November 17, 2026, and remaining functional until March 1, 2027. Education users will not experience any changes until June 1, 2027. While the transition may seem daunting, Google has provided a clear roadmap for users to adapt to the new Skills system.

Skills can be called up anywhere, even within ongoing chats, and can be triggered automatically based on specific conditions. They can also be stacked, allowing for a more efficient workflow. Skills are built on the open SKILL.md standard, ensuring compatibility with other AI platforms, such as Claude and ChatGPT. Although the transition may be challenging for those who have put time and effort into their Gems, the benefits of the Skills system appear to outweigh the drawbacks.

User experiences have been generally positive, with Gems being successfully migrated to Skills over the past two weeks. As Google continues to improve Skills, users can look forward to a brighter and more efficient future.