Google introduced Gems way back in mid-2024, before the agentic AI obsession. Gems were supposed to be AI helpers with a personality and a unique goal. You could have a Gem that helped you cook, code, or serve as your language learning partner. They all had their own chat windows and instructions, essentially turning them into mini-apps.
But that didn’t work. Gems were their own silos. They could help you complete repeating tasks, sure, but you had to find and open the Gem conversation first. So in true Google fashion, it’s gone, joining the ever-growing graveyard of products Google abandoned. And in its place comes Skills.