Google brings reusable Skills to Gemini and starts the transition from Gems

Google announced Skills for Gemini on September 30, with Workspace rollout beginning October 5. Skills are reusable custom instructions that users can call in a conversation by typing / followed by the skill name. Users can combine multiple skills in one prompt; skills can include reference files such as text documents, PDFs, or images. Google says the feature uses the open, Markdown-native SKILL.md format. (https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/gemini/automate-tasks-with-skills/; https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/09/skills-gemini-app-workspace.html)

Separate Gemini app and Workspace skills

Google’s documentation lists the Gemini app and Workspace apps as separate surfaces. A skill made in one does not automatically sync to the other; users who need the same instructions in both must recreate them separately. Google's published rollout dates were October 5 for Rapid Release Workspace domains, October 19 for Scheduled Release domains, and October 13 for the Gemini app. Those dates have passed, but the rollout is gradual and availability may still vary by account or domain. (https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/09/skills-gemini-app-workspace.html; https://knowledge.workspace.google.com/admin/generative-ai/gemini-app/about-the-transition-to-skills)

Google lists Workspace Skills for eligible Business and Enterprise editions and certain Education and AI add-ons, for users over 18. The company says Gemini app Skills will be available to users of all ages. Check current Workspace eligibility and administrator settings before sharing a workflow. (https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/09/skills-gemini-app-workspace.html)

What changes for Gems

Google says users can continue creating and using Gems in the Gemini app for now, but new Workspace Studio flows can no longer add the Ask a Gem step; existing flows continue to work for now. Gems move to the Gemini app’s Settings panel on November 17, 2026. Google’s Help Center says Gems for business and enterprise will stop working no sooner than March 1, 2027, and for education no sooner than June 1, 2027. Google plans to migrate remaining Gemini-app Gems into draft Skills; users must review and activate those drafts before using or sharing them. (https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/09/skills-gemini-app-workspace.html; https://knowledge.workspace.google.com/admin/generative-ai/gemini-app/about-the-transition-to-skills)

For Workspace Studio flows that depend on Ask a Gem, identify the owner and replace the step with a Skill or another supported action before the relevant transition date. The Gemini app and Workspace Skills are currently separate, so preserve critical instructions and reference files in both places if both surfaces are needed.

Sources

• Google — “Let skills in Gemini tackle your most repetitive tasks” (September 30, 2026): https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/gemini/automate-tasks-with-skills/
• Google Workspace Updates — “Introducing skills in the Gemini app and Workspace, plus what’s next for Gems” (September 30, 2026): https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/09/skills-gemini-app-workspace.html
• Google Workspace Help — “About the transition from Gems to skills”: https://knowledge.workspace.google.com/admin/generative-ai/gemini-app/about-the-transition-to-skills
• Google for Developers on X — official developer updates: https://x.com/googledevs