Google launches Gemini Universal Work Agent for enterprises

Google Cloud unveiled the Gemini Universal Work Agent at its Gemini at Work 2026 conference, positioning it as a single interface for enterprise users to handle questions, content creation, and coding. The agent uses corporate context to plan tasks, invoke tools, and connect directly with internal business systems to deliver finished work inside documents, inboxes, and developer environments.

CEO Thomas Kurian stated the agent accepts objectives rather than simple instructions, choosing the best model for each job while enforcing built-in cost controls, security, and governance. The system operates across devices and channels, including Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, and command-line interfaces, and can function as a headless agent.

“You give it objectives, not instructions. It plans the work, uses custom skills and tools, connects to your systems and brings back something finished.”

Google is simultaneously replacing the Gems personalization feature with a new Skills system, which allows users to save and reuse instructions for specific tasks. Support for Gems will end in November 2026 for personal accounts, March 2027 for business and nonprofit Workspace plans, and June 2027 for education plans, with existing Gems migrating automatically.

Analyst Carmi Levy suggested Google aims to become the gatekeeper for a new enterprise operating system layer, rather than simply competing on model quality. The agent can spin up sub-agents with dedicated identities and persistent storage, though access remains limited to specifically defined data and channels.