🇺🇸 USA · Google Gemini Gems
Status: 🟩 COMPLETE 🟦 LIVING Last updated: 2026-06-26 Plain-English tagline: Custom mini-Gemini assistants — Google’s answer to OpenAI’s GPTs. Configure once with instructions and files; chat with the customised Gemini anytime via the sidebar.
Front-matter facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vendor | Google LLC (Mountain View, USA) |
| Country / origin | 🇺🇸 USA |
| Recommended for Australian users? | ✅ Yes — via Google AI Pro subscription |
| Privacy summary | Gems inherit Gemini Apps Activity defaults; opt-out at myactivity.google.com applies; Workspace Gems no-train |
| Free tier | Yes — limited Gems on free Gemini tier |
| Paid tiers | Bundled with Google AI Pro (US$19.99/mo); Workspace tiers for organisations |
| First released | 2024 (initially Gemini Advanced; expanded 2024-25) |
| Last reviewed | 2026-06-26 |
| Official site | https://gemini.google.com (Gems accessed via sidebar) |
What it is
Gemini Gems are Google’s custom mini-Gemini assistants — pre-configured versions of Gemini specialised for a task or persona. They’re Google’s direct answer to OpenAI’s GPTs, with similar capabilities and a slightly different UI / discoverability story.
A Gem has:
- Name + description
- Instructions (system prompt)
- Optional source files (knowledge documents)
- Optional capabilities (Google Workspace integration, web search, code execution, image gen)
- Optional sharing settings
Google ships pre-built Gems alongside user-created ones:
- Brainstormer — generate creative ideas
- Career Guide — career advice
- Coding Partner — coding-specific assistant
- Learning Coach — explains topics
- Writing Editor — writing improvement
- Plus many more
Gemini Gems are accessed from the Gemini sidebar (gemini.google.com) — pick a Gem instead of starting from default Gemini.
What you’d use it for
- Same use cases as GPTs — repeated workflows, shared personas, specialised tools
- Inside Google ecosystem — Gems can pull from Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive) more easily than GPTs
- For students — Gems work with the free-for-AUS-students Gemini AI Pro tier
- Quick personal assistants — “my fitness coach Gem”; “my recipe planner Gem”
- Team-shared specialised tools (via Workspace)
- Pre-built Gems for one-off tasks without configuring
How to create + use from Australia
Use existing Gems
- Go to
gemini.google.com. Sign in with Google account. - Sidebar → Gems → pick one (pre-built or your own)
- Chat with the Gem
Create your own
- Sidebar → Gem Manager
- Create new Gem → guided builder
- Write instructions, optionally upload knowledge files
- Configure capabilities (Workspace integration, Search, etc.)
- Save and start chatting
Share Gems
- Personal account: shareable URLs (Pro tier)
- Workspace: share with org / team
What it costs
Free Gemini tier
- Use pre-built Gems
- Create personal Gems (limited)
Google AI Pro US$19.99/month
- Full Gem creation and use
- More custom Gems per account
- Higher usage quotas
- Premium features in Gems
Google AI Ultra US$249.99/month
- Highest quotas
- Premium-tier Gem features
Workspace Business / Enterprise
- Tenant-shared Gems
- No training on Gem chats
- Admin controls
Free for AUS university students
- Google AI Pro free for 12 months — full Gems access included
How it compares to alternatives
| Capability | Gemini Gems | OpenAI GPTs | Claude Skills + Projects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketplace / discoverability | Gems gallery (smaller than GPT Store) | GPT Store (largest) | No central marketplace |
| Pre-built by Google | Yes (many) | Yes (smaller selection) | Some bundled |
| Workspace integration | Best (Gmail / Docs / Sheets / Drive) | Limited | Limited (via Connectors) |
| External API calls | Limited | Yes (Actions) | Via MCP |
| Knowledge files | Yes | Yes | Projects |
| Cost to create | Google AI Pro | ChatGPT Plus | Claude Pro |
| Best for | Google ecosystem users | Most-featured custom assistants | Code / engineering workflows |
For Workspace users, Gems’ integration with Gmail / Docs / Drive is the strongest differentiator vs GPTs.
Privacy / data handling
- Personal Gems inherit Gemini Apps Activity defaults
- Workspace Gems: no training; tenant-isolated
- Shared Gems: instructions visible to those who can access
- Don’t put sensitive personal data in shared Gems
Recent changes
- 2026: Gems’ Workspace integration deepened
- 2025: Pre-built Gems library expanded
- 2024: Gems generally available
Gotchas
- Smaller marketplace than GPT Store — fewer third-party Gems
- Pre-built Gems are useful but generic — for serious specialised use, build your own
- Gems can’t yet match GPTs’ Actions (external API call sophistication) — Google is catching up
- Workspace integration is the real Gem advantage — if you don’t use Workspace, GPTs may be more featureful
- Gems can be confused with the Gemini app overall — naming-wise unfortunately close
See also
- Gemini 🟩 🟦
- OpenAI GPTs 🟩 🟦 — direct equivalent
- Claude Skills 🟩 🟦
- Claude.ai consumer (Projects) 🟩 🟦
- Workspace AI 🟥
- NotebookLM 🟩 🟦
- Google AI Studio 🟩 🟦
- Decision frameworks — Claude vs ChatGPT vs Gemini 🟥