Most people use AI like a search engine. They type a prompt, tweak it, rewrite it, adjust the tone, add formatting instructions—again and again. It works. But it’s inefficient.
Gems in Gemini change that.
Gems let you create custom AI assistants that remember your instructions—so you can skip the setup and get straight to work. Instead of repeating yourself, you build once and reuse forever.
What are Gems?
Gems are customizable AI experts you create inside Gemini. Think of them as specialised assistants trained for a specific purpose.
Maybe you want:
- Emails written in your brand voice
- Reports are summarised in a strict executive format
- Brainstorming sessions tailored to a specific audience
- Customer responses aligned with company policy
The difference from normal prompting is simple: a Gem remembers how you want the job done.
You define the rules once. After that, you just select your Gem and focus on the actual task. Over time, this transforms Gemini from a general-purpose AI into a finely tuned productivity system built around your workflow.
Real AI productivity doesn’t come from better prompts. It comes from reusable systems.
Getting started
Open the Gem Manager inside Gemini. This is your command centre for creating, editing, and organising custom assistants.
If you’re new, you can start with one of Gemini’s premade Gems—like brainstorming or writing helpers—and customise it. The learning curve is minimal.
But the real leverage appears when you build your own from scratch using a structured framework.
The 4-Part Framework
Every powerful Gem is built around four core elements. When these are clear, your AI becomes consistent and reliable.
1. Persona
Define the role your Gem plays. Is it a friendly writing coach? A strict editor? A concise executive assistant? The persona shapes tone and behaviour in every response.
2. Task
Be specific about what the Gem should do. Draft responses. Summarise documents. Generate outlines. Rewrite text. The clearer the task, the stronger the output.
3. Context
Provide background information that the Gem should always respect—company guidelines, audience details, uploaded files, or standing instructions.
4. Format
Specify how the output should look. Bullet points? A 500-word blog post? A structured email with a greeting and a sign-off? Formatting ensures every result is immediately usable.
With these four elements, vague AI conversations become repeatable workflows.
Example workflow
Imagine you frequently write customer support replies.
- Identify this as a repetitive weekly task.
- Open the Gem Manager and create a new Gem called “Customer Response Assistant.”
- Define the persona (professional and empathetic), the task (drafting replies), the context (brand voice and policy), and the format (a clear, concise email structure).
- Test it on a real example. Refine until it sounds exactly like you—only faster.
- Save it.
From that point forward, the Gem handles the setup automatically. You paste the situation, and you get a polished draft in seconds.
What you actually save
Time is the obvious win. Repeated prompts disappear.
But quality improves too. Because instructions are structured and reusable, output becomes more aligned with your expectations over time. You refine once—and benefit continuously.
Use Gems for:
- Email writing
- Document summarization
- Brainstorming sessions
- Customer communication
- Research formatting
- Internal documentation
Bottom line
Build once.
Work smarter forever.
Gems transform Gemini from a reactive tool into a proactive assistant—one that already understands your preferences before you type a word.
