Google Launches Skills in Gemini, Phasing Out Gems by June 2027

On September 30, 2026, Google initiated the global rollout of its new prompt format, Skills, within the Gemini chat platform. This transition marks a significant shift from the previous Gems format, which is set to be completely phased out by June 2027. Specifically, Gems will be disabled for personal accounts in November 2026, for enterprise and nonprofit Workspace customers in March 2027, and for education customers by June 2027.

Skills are defined by Google as detailed prompts designed for specific tasks, allowing users to write and refine requests more effectively. This format, which originated with Anthropic, is now available as an open standard, aligning with similar moves by OpenAI and Anthropic towards agent-ready prompt formats. Google emphasizes that multiple Skills can be chained together, enabling complex tasks that integrate various elements, such as writing style and brand guidelines.

Additionally, Skills support a wider range of reference materials, including text documents, PDFs, and images, enhancing the AI's utility in diverse contexts. Existing Gems will automatically convert to the new Skills format, ensuring a seamless transition for users. This change reflects a broader trend in the AI industry towards more structured and versatile prompt formats, which could influence how developers build applications on platforms like Gemini.