Google has introduced Skills in the Gemini app, and Gems — the custom assistants many people built over the last two years — are being phased out. According to Google’s Gemini help pages, Gems end for personal accounts in November 2026, for Workspace business customers in March 2027 and for Education in June 2027, and existing Gems are converted automatically. If you use Gemini for writing, research or work, now is the time to learn how Skills work. This guide covers the timeline, how to create a skill, and ten templates you can copy today.
Gems vs Skills: What’s the Difference?
Gems were full custom chatbots with their own instructions. Skills are smaller, reusable abilities you can call inside any conversation, often by typing a slash command. You can even stack more than one skill in a single chat.
| Gems | Skills | |
|---|---|---|
| How you use it | Open a separate Gem chat | Call it inside any chat with / |
| Combining | One Gem at a time | Stack multiple skills |
| Status | Being retired | Launched September 30, 2026 |
Transition Timeline
- Personal Google accounts: Gems end in November 2026
- Workspace business: March 2027
- Workspace for Education: June 2027
- Existing Gems convert into Skills automatically, but you should review each one.
How to Create a Gemini Skill Step by Step
- Open the Gemini app or gemini.google.com and sign in.
- Go to the Skills area from the side menu (where Gems used to be).
- Click New skill and give it a short, clear name, such as “SEO Meta Writer”.
- Write instructions: what the skill does, the inputs it expects and the exact output format.
- Optionally add reference files, such as a brand style guide.
- Save, then open any chat and type / to call your skill.
- Test it with real examples and refine the instructions.
What Skills Can’t Do Yet
According to Google’s help page, skills do not yet support some features such as Canvas, Deep Research, or video and music creation. If one of your Gems depended on those tools, keep that in mind during conversion.
10 Ready-to-Copy Gemini Skill Templates
1. Blog Post Outliner
“When given a topic, produce an SEO-friendly outline: title under 60 characters, meta description under 155 characters, 6–8 H2s with 2 bullet points each, and 5 FAQs.”
2. SEO Meta Writer
“Given a page summary and keyword, write 3 title tags and 3 meta descriptions. Keep the keyword near the start. Return a table.”
3. Email Reply Assistant
“Read the email I paste and draft a polite, concise reply in under 120 words. Ask me for any missing facts.”
4. Social Post Repurposer
“Turn the article I paste into one LinkedIn post, three X posts and one Instagram caption with five hashtags.”
5. Meeting Notes Summariser
“Summarise pasted notes into decisions, action items with owners, and open questions.”
6. Product Description Writer
“Write a 120-word product description with three benefit bullets, for an online store, in a friendly tone.”
7. Study Buddy
“Explain the topic simply, then give five quiz questions with answers hidden at the end.”
8. Grammar Fixer
“Correct grammar and clarity without changing meaning. List the main changes at the end.”
9. YouTube Script Hook
“Write three 15-second opening hooks for a video on the given topic.”
10. Customer Review Responder
“Write a warm reply to positive reviews and a calm, solution-focused reply to negative reviews. Never offer incentives for reviews.”
Tips for Better Skills
- Specify the output format clearly (table, bullets, word count).
- Add one good example inside the instructions.
- Tell the skill what to do when information is missing.
- Combine skills, for example /outliner followed by /meta-writer.
How to Convert an Existing Gem Into a Great Skill
Automatic conversion is helpful, but it copies your old instructions as they are. Spend five minutes reviewing each converted skill:
- Open the converted skill and read the instructions out loud.
- Delete repeated or outdated rules.
- Split long Gems into two or three focused skills.
- Add a clear output format and one example.
- Test with three real tasks and refine.
A Simple Formula for Writing Skill Instructions
Use the R-I-S-O formula: Role, Input, Steps, Output.
| Part | Example |
|---|---|
| Role | You are a friendly copy editor for small business websites. |
| Input | The user pastes a paragraph or page. |
| Steps | Fix grammar, simplify long sentences, keep brand terms unchanged. |
| Output | Return the edited text, then a bullet list of key changes. |
Skill Ideas by Profession
- Bloggers: outline builder, meta writer, internal link suggester, FAQ generator.
- Students: flashcard maker, essay feedback, concept explainer.
- Small businesses: review responder, offer post writer, invoice reminder email.
- Marketers: ad copy variations, campaign brief, competitor summary.
- Teachers: lesson plan builder, quiz generator, parent email drafter.
Stacking Skills: A Real Workflow
A blogger can type /outliner with a topic, then /meta-writer on the result, then /social-repurposer once the article is done. Three small skills replace one long, messy Gem and produce more consistent results each time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Gems be deleted?
Google says existing Gems convert automatically to Skills during the transition. Review them afterwards.
Are Skills free?
Skills are available in the Gemini app; some advanced features may depend on your Google AI plan.
Can I share a skill?
Check the sharing options in the Skills menu, as sharing features may roll out over time.
Final Thoughts
Skills make Gemini more flexible: instead of switching between Gems, you call the exact ability you need in any chat. Convert or rebuild your most-used Gems now, keep each skill focused, and use the ten templates above to get started quickly.
