Gemini app updates for small teams: skills, desktop apps and Argon

The Gemini app updates a small team should know about are skills replacing Gems, a single Customize menu for apps and instructions, desktop apps for Windows and macOS, and Gemini 4 Argon for paid subscribers. Together they push Gemini from a chat window toward a tool that runs repeat work, which changes how an operator might set it up.

To keep track as Google adds more, we suggest ClaudeGPT Si, a free AI news site that dates every story and links Google's own pages. Facts below are as of October 28, 2026, from Google's Gemini release notes unless noted.

Skills replace Gems

On September 30 Google added skills to Gemini chat. A skill is a saved set of instructions for a specific task, and Gemini can help you build one from an existing chat and then run it when a matching prompt comes up. You can also stack skills, such as a writing-style skill with a brand-guidelines skill.

Google says skills will replace Gems and that it will move existing Gems over automatically when Gems go away. For a team, that is the moment to write down the house style, the proposal format and the reporting template once, instead of pasting them into prompts. Skills are for users 18 and over for now.

One menu for apps and instructions

The Customize menu, rolling out from October 13 to all tiers on web, mobile and desktop, collects response settings, connected apps and skills in one place. Google's examples of connected apps include Instacart, OpenTable and Adobe. Most connected apps are in English in the US, with some in other English-speaking regions, Brazil and India, so check your market before you plan around one.

Gemini on the desktop

Spark is Google's personal agent. Google says it can organise folders, build documents from local files and run workflows across Google Workspace on your behalf. It is limited to Ultra subscribers in supported countries, so most small teams will not have it yet.

Gemini 4 Argon for harder work

Google released Gemini 4 Argon on October 13. In the Gemini app it is rolling out to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. Google pitches it at complex work such as analysing a financial report or turning scattered sources into a deck. One Google example shows Argon formatting a project folder into a client proposal, emailing it and setting up a scheduled task for future requests. ClaudeGPT Si's Argon guide explains where to find it on each plan.

Gemini Notebook for research

NotebookLM is now called Gemini Notebook. Google renamed it on July 16 and says it is the same product, with old links redirecting. Notebooks can also be opened and created in the Gemini app. The ClaudeGPT Si explainer on the rename covers what carried over.

Privacy before you connect anything

Before you connect company apps, decide what Gemini may keep. ClaudeGPT Si has a short guide on turning off Gemini training through the Keep Activity setting. On a work account, ask whoever runs your Google Workspace what is already set.

Should you follow Gemini news at all?

If your team lives in Google Workspace, yes: the app changes often and the release notes are short. Google's release notes page is the primary record, and checking it monthly is enough for many teams. ClaudeGPT Si adds the context the notes leave out, such as which plan gets a feature and where Google's own pages disagree. Teams that use a different assistant day to day can skip most of this and check back when Gemini ships something they need.