Let skills in Gemini tackle your most repetitive tasks
If you use Gemini for recurring work tasks like drafting reports, brainstorming, or prepping presentations, Skills lets you save your own reusable instructions once and reuse them any time by typing "/" and the skill name, instead of re-explaining your preferred format or tone every time. It is rolling out now in the Gemini app, with Google Workspace support coming in the following weeks, and will eventually replace the existing Gems feature.
What changed
Source summary
Google has introduced Skills in Gemini: saved custom instructions you trigger by typing "/" followed by the skill name, which can be stacked together and attached to reference files like PDFs or images for tasks such as writing, brainstorming, and presentation prep. Skills is available now in Gemini chat globally and is coming to Google Workspace users in the coming weeks; it replaces the existing Gems feature, which is being phased out on a staggered timeline through 2027, with existing Gems automatically migrated to Skills beforehand. It is currently available to ages 18+, with under-18 access coming soon.
Why it matters to your work
Practical interpretation
If you use Gemini for recurring work tasks like drafting reports, brainstorming, or prepping presentations, Skills lets you save your own reusable instructions once and reuse them any time by typing "/" and the skill name, instead of re-explaining your preferred format or tone every time. It is rolling out now in the Gemini app, with Google Workspace support coming in the following weeks, and will eventually replace the existing Gems feature.
When this could help
Useful for recurring writing, brainstorming, or presentation-prep tasks where you'd otherwise retype the same instructions each time.
Skills let you save a custom instruction once and reuse it by typing "/" plus the skill name, instead of re-explaining your preferred format every time. Skills can be stacked together and attached to reference files like PDFs or images.
How to get started
Type "/" followed by a skill's name in the Gemini prompt bar to trigger it; a skill can also run automatically when your prompt matches it.
Provider guidance ↗Combine several skills in one request, for example a writing-style skill together with a brand-guidelines skill.
Provider guidance ↗Attach reference files (plain text, PDFs or images) to a skill as part of this rollout.
Provider guidance ↗If you already use Gems, check the Gems-to-Skills help page for your migration timeline before the relevant cutoff date.
Provider guidance ↗
Try this · The SCALA method
Give AI a clearer brief
- Situation
- You give Gemini the same instructions repeatedly for a task, such as a report format, a brand tone, or a presentation structure.
- Consultant
- Act as a workflow assistant.
- Action
- Save my instructions for [the repeat task, e.g. 'drafting a weekly status report in our house style'] as a Skill called [skill name], then apply it whenever I type "/[skill name]". [Fill in the task and name.]
- Language
- Match the output format you specified in the skill (e.g. a structured report, a slide outline).
- Ask
- Ask me to confirm the skill's saved instructions the first time you run it, so you can correct anything before it becomes your default.
SCALA suggested prompt · Adapt the context and check the result.
Learn the SCALA method →Build it into your routine
SCALA suggested workflow
Standardising a recurring task
Next time you catch yourself giving Gemini the same instructions for a repeat task, save it as a Skill via "/" and a name, then reuse it each time that task comes up instead of retyping the brief.
What to check
Sources & provider guides
Official documentation checked 12 Oct 2026. SCALA prompts and workflows are suggestions, not claims of hands-on testing.
Source & availability
This is a summary of a published provider announcement, with practical context from SCALA’s feed.
Plan, region, workspace and rollout conditions may affect access in Australia. Check the original source for current availability.
blog.google