Gems (Gemini)
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Last reviewed
Jun 3, 2026
Sources
13 citations
Review status
Source-backed
Revision
v1 · 1,319 words
Add missing citations, update stale details, or suggest a clearer explanation.
Gems are customizable versions of Gemini that users configure with their own instructions to handle recurring tasks or to act as an on-demand expert on a chosen subject. A Gem bundles a saved set of directions, a name, and an optional store of reference material into a reusable persona, so that a person does not have to restate the same context every time they open a new conversation. The feature lives inside the Gemini app and is broadly comparable to the custom GPTs that OpenAI offers in ChatGPT [1][2].
Google positions Gems as a way to save time on "tedious, repetitive or difficult tasks." A single user can keep several Gems, effectively assembling a small team of specialized assistants, each tuned for a different job such as coding help, writing feedback, or brainstorming [3].
Gemini first previewed Gems at the Google I/O developer conference on May 14, 2024, where the company framed them as customized versions of Gemini that subscribers would soon be able to build [4]. In its initial pitch, Google described setting one up by describing the desired behavior in plain language, offering examples such as a "gym buddy," a "sous chef," a "coding partner," and a "creative writing guide." A typical instruction Google demonstrated was "you're my running coach, give me a daily running plan and be positive, upbeat and motivating," after which Gemini would refine those words into a working Gem with a single click [4].
The feature sat in preview through the northern summer of 2024 before reaching users. Press coverage at the time consistently described Gems as Google's answer to OpenAI's GPTs, the user-built chatbots that ChatGPT had popularized [3][5].
A Gem is defined mainly by its instructions. When a user types what they want, Gemini restructures the input into labeled sections such as Purpose and Goals along with Behaviors and Rules, the latter covering details like tone, sentence length, and whether the assistant should use emoji [6]. The user then names the Gem and saves it, after which it appears in a manager accessible from the Gemini side panel for quick reuse [6].
Saved Gems can draw on reference files. Google added file uploads in November 2024, allowing a creator to attach up to ten files to a Gem so its answers stay grounded in specific source material; the supported file types and sizes match Gemini's document upload feature, and creators can also reference content from Google Drive [7]. Because Gems run on top of Gemini, they inherit the model's connections to Google services, although they do not expose the external API connections or "actions" that some rival custom assistants allow [2].
Alongside custom creation, Google ships a set of ready-made Gems that double as templates a user can copy and modify. The five premade Gems that launched with the feature were [3][6]:
| Gem | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Learning coach | Breaks down complex topics into manageable explanations |
| Brainstormer | Generates ideas and creative inspiration |
| Career guide | Helps with professional development and career planning |
| Writing editor | Gives feedback on grammar, structure, and style |
| Coding partner | Assists with programming tasks |
For paid Google Workspace customers, Google later expanded the premade lineup with business-oriented Gems aimed at common workplace scenarios, including Marketing insights, Sales pitch ideator, Hiring consultant, Outreach specialist, Copy creator, and Sentiment analyzer [8].
To build a custom Gem, a user opens the Gem manager in Gemini on the web and selects the option to create a new Gem [9]. From there they write the instructions, optionally attach reference files, give the Gem a name, and save it. Google designed the flow to be quick and forgiving, and commentators noted that Gems are generally faster to set up than custom GPTs even if they offer fewer advanced controls [2].
One practical limit has persisted across the rollout: new Gems can only be created from gemini.google.com on a computer. The mobile apps let people open and chat with existing Gems but not author new ones [9][10]. Creation is also restricted to users aged 18 and over [9].
Gems reached their first users on August 28, 2024, when Google rolled them out to Gemini Advanced, Gemini Business, and Gemini Enterprise subscribers across more than 150 countries and most supported languages, on both desktop and mobile [1][6]. The launch shipped on the same day as an upgrade to Google's Imagen 3 image model [1]. Google has since said Gems quickly became one of the most used Gemini Advanced features [8].
The feature then moved down to the free tier in 2025. Free access first appeared on the web around mid-March 2025, and on March 25, 2025, Google extended it to the Gemini apps for Android and iOS, letting users without a subscription access and use Gems [9][10]. Sharing followed later in the year: after a preview tied to education in mid-2025, Google launched Gem sharing for both personal and Workspace accounts on September 18, 2025, using Google Drive permissions so a Gem can be shared with Viewer or Editor access much like a Google Doc [11][12]. Google also surfaced Gems in the side panel of Workspace apps such as Docs, Gmail, Sheets, and Slides as part of its broader Gemini for Workspace push [13].
| Milestone | Date | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| Previewed at Google I/O | May 14, 2024 | Announced for Gemini Advanced |
| General rollout | August 28, 2024 | Advanced, Business, Enterprise (150+ countries) |
| File uploads added | November 2024 | Existing Gem creators |
| Free on web | Mid-March 2025 | All users (web) |
| Free on Android and iOS | March 25, 2025 | All users (mobile, access only) |
| Sharing launched | September 18, 2025 | Personal and Workspace accounts |
Coverage of Gems repeatedly drew the comparison to OpenAI's custom GPTs, casting the feature as Google matching a capability ChatGPT users already had [2][3][5]. Reviewers credited Gems for a low-friction setup, observing that they are harder to misconfigure than GPTs, while noting trade-offs: at launch Gems lacked a dedicated knowledge-base upload comparable to GPTs and had no equivalent to GPT Actions for wiring in external APIs or third-party services [2]. The November 2024 addition of file uploads narrowed part of that gap, and the 2025 move to the free tier, together with sharing and Workspace side-panel access, broadened who could use the feature well beyond the original paying audience [7][9][11].