# Google retires Gemini Gems for Skills starting November 17

Published: 2026-09-28T17:33:03.158Z · Source: TechCrunch AI (https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/28/google-is-killing-off-geminis-gems-in-favor-of-skills/)
Source date: 2026-09-28
Flags: single-source — confirmation pending
Entities: gemini, google

Google will begin automatically migrating Gems, its custom task-specific Gemini assistants, into a new "skills" format on November 17, per an in-app notice reported by TechCrunch and 9to5Google. Existing Gems keep working until each one migrates, and skills are invoked with a "/" in the prompt box, letting several run in the same task. Skill creation is currently limited to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers through the Gemini Spark tab; Google's notice does not say whether free-account users, who have always had Gems, will retain any custom-assistant capability once their Gems convert. The notice's own "Learn more" link and "Create skills" button were not yet functional as of publication, per 9to5Google.

Why it matters: Google is folding its free, all-users custom-assistant feature into a subscriber-gated one just as rival all-in-one agents from Meta push the other way, and it hasn't said what free users keep.

## What this answers

**Is Google getting rid of Gemini Gems?**

Yes — Google will start automatically migrating Gems to a new "skills" format beginning November 17, 2026, and Gems stay usable until each one migrates, per Google's in-app notice.

**Can free Gemini users create skills?**

Not yet stated by Google — skill creation is currently limited to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers via the Gemini Spark tab, while Gems are available to all Gemini users, including free accounts.


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