Google is rolling out Gemini Skills, a new system that replaces its custom AI assistants called Gems. The change was detailed in the company’s Workspace Updates blog on September 30.

Skills are reusable blocks of instructions that Gemini applies across conversations. Users type a forward slash in the prompt box to select a skill, or the model detects when one fits. Multiple skills can be stacked in one chat.

Unlike Gems, which ran as separate personas, Skills work inside any conversation. They can also be built from existing chats and can include reference files such as documents, PDFs and images.

The rollout starts with Google Workspace customers on October 5, followed by the Gemini app on October 13. New Gems can no longer be created from October 13, and existing Gems automatically convert to draft Skills on November 17.

Gems required a paid subscription when they launched in 2024. Skills will be available to anyone with a personal Google account, widening access to custom AI instructions.