Have you ever created a custom AI assistant using Gemini and wished your colleagues could access it too? Thanks to a recent update from Google, sharing your Gemini gems is now as effortless as sharing a link to a Google Doc. While this development enhances collaboration significantly, it also prompts questions about Google’s timing and whether these changes will allow Gemini to distinguish itself in the competitive AI landscape.
How to Share Your Gemini Gems
Previously, Gemini gems felt like isolated projects, offering customization through prompts, styles, and files for various tasks such as brainstorming and planning. However, you couldn’t share them with others.
That has now changed. Google has introduced a feature that enables users to share their Gemini gems in the same way they share documents in Google Drive and Docs.
To get started, simply open the Gem Manager by clicking on Explore Gems.
Select the Gem you wish to share, then click Share to either send a link or add recipient email addresses. Those who receive the link will be able to view or copy the gem immediately.
Importantly, you don’t need a Gemini Advanced account to access shared gems. This makes it widely accessible for all users.
Why Is Google Introducing Gem Sharing Now?
Google’s decision to enable sharing functionality for Gemini Gems is driven by various competitive and strategic factors. When Gemini was first launched in March 2025, it quickly gained popularity, but users were clamoring for features that would allow collaboration akin to those offered by custom GPTs.
Meanwhile, platforms like OpenAI’s custom GPTs became easily shareable, Anthropic built comprehensive prompt libraries, and Microsoft integrated Copilot into its Office applications. These advancements made Gemini seem less competitive, necessitating a feature that would demonstrate its potential for teamwork rather than only individual use.
Furthermore, Google has been targeting a larger strategic objective. With over 450 million monthly users by July 2025, driven by widespread integrations in Search and Android, Gemini needed to be part of collaborative workflows instead of functioning solely as a solitary chatbot.
Though Google had hinted at this sharing feature since June, it opted to refine the capabilities until September to ensure a smooth user experience amidst rising antitrust scrutiny and concerns about AI ethics. Offering a reliable collaboration tool was essential to building trust in Gemini’s functionality.
By facilitating gem sharing, Google aims to foster habitual use among teams, making it less likely for them to abandon the platform. This strategic move is crucial for maintaining its subscription revenue, especially with Gemini’s new ability to recall past chats.
Timeliness was a significant factor as well—Google has pitched Gemini as essential for hybrid work environments, yet it lagged when it came to fluid collaboration. Introducing sharing was vital for addressing this gap.
In summary, Google’s timely introduction of gem sharing helps it retain users who might be drawn to competitors like ChatGPT, which already offer robust collaborative functionalities. This move is fundamentally aimed at expanding Workspace adoption and increasing user engagement within Gemini.
Who Benefits Most from Sharing Gemini Gems?
The introduction of sharing features primarily advantages Google and enterprises that already utilize Google Workspace.
For Google, the ability to share gems increases user retention. When organizations build their workflow around Gemini, they are less likely to seek alternatives, resulting in a stronger commitment to the Google ecosystem. This creates user lock-in and encourages the adoption of additional Google Workspace features, surpassing mere user convenience.
Enterprises also benefit from shared gems as they can reduce training times, minimize repetitive tasks, and streamline standardization, leading to more consistent results across various departments.
Creative teams are on the lookout as they can develop collaborative story templates using functionalities inspired by Gemini AI storybooks. However, for individual users and freelancers, the benefits of this feature may not be as significant unless they regularly collaborate.
Limitations of Gem Sharing
While the gem-sharing feature promotes collaboration, it has several limitations that hinder its full potential. First, sharing requires a Google account, meaning access is contingent on Google Drive permissions. This exclusivity may work for certain users but restricts others.
For example, in a mixed-work environment, sharing gems with a non-Google user becomes problematic since they would need a Google account to access the shared gem. This compels users to revert to other methods, like copying and pasting prompts, negating the benefits of collaboration.
Moreover, permission settings can present challenges. Unlike the preview-only options available with GPT sharing, there is no strict read-only mode in Gemini. Users granted access can duplicate gems into their own Drive, potentially compromising the originality and integrity of the original work.
This risk becomes more concerning for shared Gems containing proprietary content. Without adequate safeguards, users may expose sensitive information unintentionally.
The mobile experience is another area that requires improvement. While you can share and view gems through the mobile app, full editing functionality is restricted to the web version. Synchronization lags on the app and difficulties with loading attachments can cause frustration, especially for users on free accounts, who are limited to five prompts.
Steps Google Should Take Next
To enhance the sharing functionality of Gemini Gems, Google should prioritize addressing existing gaps. First, they could implement sandbox previews that allow users to interact with shared gems without the risk of exporting them.
Introducing varied permission settings—such as expiring links, redacted prompts, and preview-only access—would enhance security and usability beyond simple edit and view options.
Additionally, expanding sharing options with features like guest modes or universal links would eliminate account barriers, making it easier to collaborate across different platforms.
Improving mobile optimization, perhaps through offline caching, would bring the mobile experience in line with desktop capabilities.
Lastly, integrating Gems into Workspace apps like Docs for auto-embedding and creating ROI dashboards to demonstrate value would transition Gems from being a mere addition to become indispensable tools.
A Necessary Step, Despite Its Delayed Arrival
In my assessment, the capability to share Gemini Gems serves not just as an enhancement but is an essential update. Google needed to deliver this feature to maintain competitiveness and to convey that Gemini is not merely an individual tool but a robust asset for teams.
While this feature is valuable and overdue, it represents just the initial step—it requires enhanced version control, deeper integration, and more robust protections. To transform sharing from a helpful option into a must-have feature, Google must refine its AI collaboration tools for a truly seamless experience.
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