Google Is Renaming Your Custom AI Assistants — Here's What Changes

Google announced it's shutting down its 'Gems' feature inside the Gemini AI app and replacing it with something called 'skills.' Gems, launched in 2024, let regular people build their own custom AI assistants — a running coach, a nutritionist, a vacation planner, or an editor — so they wouldn't have to re-explain what they wanted every time. If you made one, it'll automatically transfer to the new skills format on November 17, 2026. You don't need to do anything. Your Gems keep working normally until then.

The big change is how you actually use them. Right now, Gems sit right there in the app for easy tapping. As skills, you'll need to type a forward slash ('/') in a chat to pull up the one you want. That's a small thing for engineers but annoying for everyone else — imagine having to type a secret code every time you wanted to open an app on your phone. Google says skills can be used across more types of tasks, which is the trade-off.

Why is Google doing this? Competition. All-in-one AI assistants like Meta's Muse and Instinct are gaining popularity because they just work when you type normally — no special commands, no setup. Google's shift is an attempt to keep up, but it's also a reminder of a long-running problem: Google launches lots of branded features with their own icons and menus, then shuffles them around. (Remember when it had five different messaging apps?)

For you, the practical takeaway is simple: your Gems survive, but expect a slightly clumsier experience starting in late 2026. If you rely on a custom Gem daily, it's worth testing the slash-command approach once the change rolls out. And if you've been thinking about trying Meta's Muse or another AI app, this is a reasonable moment to compare — especially if you value just typing and getting an answer.