Updated July 2026

Building Agents with Gemini Gems

Class Duration

7 hours of live training delivered over 1-2 days to accommodate your scheduling needs.

Student Prerequisites

Comfort with everyday office software: documents, spreadsheets, email, and a web browser
Familiarity with Google Workspace apps such as Gmail, Docs, and Drive
No technical background or programming experience required

Target Audience

Business users and team leads who want to build their own custom assistants in Google Gemini: operations, HR, finance, marketing, sales, support, and management. Ideal for organizations on Google Workspace that want purpose-built Gems grounded in their own documents and processes. No technical background is assumed, and nothing in the course requires one.

Description

This practical, hands-on course teaches business users how to build their own custom Gems in Google Gemini, no programming required. Participants learn what a Gem is, how it differs from ordinary Gemini chat, and how to create one in the Gem manager. The course covers writing clear instructions, giving a Gem knowledge from uploaded files, and connecting a Gem to Google Workspace so it can draw on Gmail, Docs, and Drive. It also covers starting from the premade Gems, testing a Gem until it behaves reliably, and sharing a Gem with a team. Responsible use receives close attention: protecting sensitive data, understanding Workspace permissions, and working within organizational policy. Every topic is practiced against realistic workplace scenarios so participants leave able to build, refine, and share useful Gems the same week.

Learning Outcomes

Explain what a Gemini Gem is and how it differs from ordinary Gemini chat.
Create a custom Gem in the Gem manager from a plain-language description.
Write clear instructions that shape a Gem's role, tone, scope, and behavior.
Give a Gem knowledge from uploaded files and keep it current.
Connect a Gem to Google Workspace so it can draw on Gmail, Docs, and Drive.
Start from and adapt the premade Gems for common tasks.
Test and refine a Gem, checking its answers against its knowledge.
Share a Gem with a team and establish shared practices for using it.
Protect sensitive information and work within Workspace permissions and policy.

Training Materials

Comprehensive courseware is distributed online at the start of class. All students receive a downloadable MP4 recording of the training.

Software Requirements

Students need a Google account with access to Gemini and, for Workspace features, a Google Workspace plan that includes Gemini, plus a web browser. No installation required.

Training Topics

Understanding Gemini Gems

What a Gem is and how it extends Google Gemini
Gems compared to ordinary Gemini chat
Everyday scenarios where a purpose-built Gem helps
The pieces of a Gem: instructions, knowledge, and connections
The path from idea to shared Gem

Creating Your First Gem

Opening the Gem manager and starting a new Gem
Describing a Gem in plain language
Naming a Gem and writing its description
Setting the Gem's role, scope, and personality
Previewing a Gem as you build it

Writing Effective Instructions

The anatomy of clear Gem instructions
Defining what the Gem should and should not do
Setting tone, audience, and response format
Handling questions outside the Gem's scope
Refining instructions based on how the Gem responds

Giving a Gem Knowledge

Uploading files as a knowledge source
Choosing which documents belong in a Gem
Keeping knowledge accurate and up to date
How knowledge reduces made-up answers
Checking answers against the uploaded files

Connecting to Google Workspace

Letting a Gem draw on Gmail, Docs, and Drive
Choosing which Workspace connections a Gem needs
Understanding what a connection can access on your behalf
Keeping Workspace data appropriately scoped
Reviewing results before relying on them

Starting from Premade Gems

Exploring the premade Gems for common tasks
Adapting a premade Gem to your needs
Learning good instruction patterns from existing Gems
When to start fresh versus adapt
Building a personal set of go-to Gems

Testing and Refining

Trying a Gem against realistic questions
Spotting weak instructions and knowledge gaps
Checking answers against the Gem's sources
Iterating on instructions, knowledge, and connections
Getting a Gem ready to share

Sharing a Gem with a team
Protecting customer, employee, and company data
Understanding Workspace permissions and data boundaries
Working within your organization's AI and data policies
Sharing effective Gem practices across your team