Google has announced skills in Gemini and is retiring its AI workflow experiment, Opal, on November 17, 2026. If you built mini-apps there, here is what to do before the switch-off.
Table of Contents
Google : Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| What’s new | Skills in Gemini |
| What’s closing | Opal (opal.google.com and Opal inside the Gemini app) |
| Shutdown date | November 17, 2026 |
| Last day to use it | November 16, 2026 |
| Auto-migration | No, saved workflows won’t move over |
| Your files | Stay in Google Drive (My Drive > Opal) |
| Best replacements | Gemini skills, Google AI Studio |
What Are Skills in Gemini?
Skills are a faster way to automate repetitive tasks and save custom instructions right in chat. You write your repeating instructions once, save them as a skill, and then call it up whenever you need it. To use a skill, type a forward slash (/) followed by the skill’s name. It is a simple idea, and it means you no longer need to retype the same prompt every time.
Why Is Opal Closing?
Opal began as an AI workflow experiment where people built mini-apps. Google says skills offers many of the same capabilities, so Opal is being turned down. The company also says the creativity of Opal users taught it a lot about how people want to customize AI, and that those lessons helped shape how skills work today. In short, Opal was a test, and skills is the product that grew out of it.
What Happens to Your Saved Work?
Here is the important part, because this is where people can lose things:
| Item | What happens |
|---|---|
| Workflow files in Drive | Stay put. Google says it won’t touch or delete them. |
| Interactive running | Stops after November 16, because the visual runner turns off. |
| Custom prompts | Won’t be extracted for you, so copy them yourself. |
| Migration | Not automatic. You rebuild elsewhere. |
Your saved workflow files live in a folder named “Opal” in your personal Google Drive. They stay there, but you won’t be able to run them interactively after the shutdown.
Your To-Do List Before November 16
- Open opal.google.com and review your workflows.
- Copy the prompt text from any workflow you want to keep.
- Save those prompts somewhere safe, such as a document or notes app.
- Recreate them as Gemini skills for everyday tasks and customized chat.
- Try Google AI Studio if you want deeper prototyping or developer projects with the newest Gemini models.
You can keep using Opal as usual until November 16, so there is time, but don’t leave it to the last day. For background on the model family behind all this, see Gemini on Wikipedia.
Which Replacement Should You Choose?
If you used Opal for everyday automation, such as repeating a writing style, a summary format or a checklist, skills in Gemini is the natural fit. If you built more complex mini-apps or like working with custom prompts and advanced features, Google AI Studio is the better home.
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FAQs
Q1. When does Opal shut down?
Opal turns off on November 17, 2026. You can use it as usual until November 16.
Q2. Will my Opal workflows be deleted?
No. The files stay in your Google Drive “Opal” folder. They just won’t run interactively, so copy your prompts first.
