Google is replacing Gems with skills, which are reusable custom instructions for Gemini. Education users can keep using Gems until no sooner than 1 June 2027. Teachers who rely on Gems in Classroom will need to recreate them as skills or move to other tools.
List the Gems your staff use in the Gemini app and Google Classroom, and plan to recreate them as skills before education support for Gems ends.
For your ICT coordinator
Skills roll out in Workspace from 5 October 2026 (Rapid Release) or 19 October 2026 (Scheduled Release), and in the Gemini app from 13 October 2026, with completion expected by mid November. Gems move to the Settings panel of the Gemini app on 17 November 2026. For education, Gems can no longer be created, edited or used from no sooner than 1 June 2027, and Workspace Studio flows with the Ask a Gem step stop working. Remaining Gems are then auto-migrated to draft skills in the Gemini app, with at least 30 days notice to admins. Skills do not sync between the Gemini app and Workspace apps, so each needs creating in both places. Skills in Workspace are available to users over 18, and skills in the Gemini app to users of all ages. The excerpt points admins to the Help Center page on allowing skills in Studio and Gemini in Workspace.
The evidence
Google, Workspace Updates blog, 30 September 2026: introduces skills in the Gemini app and Workspace and sets out the transition away from Gems.
No sooner than June 1, 2027 (education only): Gems can no longer be created, edited, or used, and they’re removed from the Settings panel of the Gemini app, as well as Google Classroom https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/09/skills-gemini-app-workspace.html
skills in Workspace are available only to users over age 18; skills in the Gemini app will be available to users of all ages https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/09/skills-gemini-app-workspace.html