Google Opal lets you build small AI apps by describing them in plain English: click Create New, type what you want the app to do, and Opal builds a step-by-step workflow you can edit, test and share. But Google says Opal turns off on 17 November 2026, as its ideas move into skills in Gemini, so build with that date in mind.
Opal came out of Google Labs as an experiment in letting anyone chain prompts, models and tools together without code. It's clever and fun to use. It's also on a countdown, which almost nobody writing about it has mentioned yet.
Everything here comes from Google's own Opal site, quickstart, overview and FAQ, read in October 2026.
The shutdown: what happens on 17 November 2026
| Question | What Google says |
|---|---|
| What's closing? | The Opal service and Gems made by Labs in Gemini |
| When? | 17 November 2026 |
| Will my apps keep running? | No. Workflows won't run interactively after that date |
| Will my files be deleted? | No. They stay in your Google Drive under My Drive, then Opal |
| Will they move to Gemini automatically? | No. You'll need to set up new skills or prompts yourself |
| Where should I build instead? | Skills in Gemini for everyday tasks, or Google AI Studio for deeper prototyping |
Google's advice is to open your workflows before 17 November and copy any prompts or instructions you want to keep. After that you can still open the files from your Drive's Opal folder in a plain text editor and pull the prompt text out.
What an Opal is
Google describes Opals as AI mini-apps anyone can build, edit and share. Three things make them different from a normal chatbot conversation:
- Multi-step flows. One app can chain several prompts, model calls and tools together.
- No code. You describe what you want and Opal builds a workflow you can edit.
- Hosting included. Google runs the app for you, so you can share it straight away.
Three ways to start
| Route | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Remix from the Gallery | Open a demo Opal, click Remix, then edit your copy | First-timers; Google recommends this |
| Natural language editor | Click Create New and describe the app | When you know what you want |
| Visual editor | Add and connect steps by hand | Fine control over each step |
How to build your first Opal, step by step
- Go to the Opal homepage and open the Gallery.
- Click a demo, such as the Blog Post Writer, to see how it works.
- Click Remix to make your own copy. Changes won't touch the original.
- Use the natural language editor at the bottom of the screen to describe a change.
- Wait for Opal to update, then click the background and check the Preview section of the sidebar.
- Share or publish the app when you're happy.
Here's the kind of request I'd type into the natural language editor for a small business:
Copy this prompt
Create an app that asks for a product name and three key features, then writes a short product description, a 20-word social post and an email subject line, and shows all three on one page.
The building blocks inside an Opal
| Step type | What it does |
|---|---|
| User Input | Collects text or an image from the person using the app |
| Generate | Sends a prompt to the AI model you pick and creates text, an image or video |
| Output | Decides what people see, such as a web page or a Google Drive spreadsheet |
You can also upload static assets, like a reference image or a document, for the model to follow. Google's tip is to use these as examples or requirements: upload a style image and ask for images that match it, or a document whose structure the text should copy. Another useful trick from the overview: type the @ character while editing a prompt to see the steps and tools you can reference.
There's a Theme option in the sidebar too. You can generate a random look for your app or describe one in words, and Opal saves every theme you make so you can switch between them, though you can't tweak a theme by hand.
Privacy and access
Google says it doesn't use content from Opal, including your prompts and outputs, to train its generative AI models, though people may review a small number of prompts to troubleshoot. The editor is designed for a desktop computer; you can use or view a finished app on your phone. Google also notes Opal can make mistakes, so test your app before you share it.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
If you'd rather generate screens from a prompt, this list of AI UI generators looks at tools for app and web design.
How I'd move an Opal to Gemini skills
- Open each Opal you rely on before 17 November 2026.
- Copy the prompt from every Generate step into a document, in order.
- In Gemini, create a skill using those instructions, combining steps where you can.
- Test it with the same inputs you used in Opal and compare the results.
My guide to Gemini skills covers how to set one up, and how to use Gemini is a good start if you're newer to it. If you'd like help rebuilding AI workflows for your business on tools that aren't about to close, that's something I do on my work with me page.
My verdict
Opal is a lovely way to learn how AI workflows fit together, and remixing a Gallery demo takes minutes. But I wouldn't build anything your business depends on in it now. Use it to prototype, save every prompt as you go, and plan to rebuild the useful ones as Gemini skills before 17 November 2026.
For a wider look at tools that build automations from plain instructions, our round-up of AI workflow tools lines up the options.
Frequently asked questions
What is Google Opal?
Opal is a Google Labs tool for building, editing and sharing AI mini-apps without code. You describe the app in plain English and it builds a multi-step workflow you can edit.
Is Google Opal shutting down?
Yes. Google says the Opal service and Gems made by Labs in Gemini turn off on 17 November 2026, with skills in Gemini and Google AI Studio as the places to build next.
Will I lose my Opal apps?
Your workflow files stay in Google Drive under My Drive, then Opal, but they won't run after 17 November 2026 and won't move to Gemini automatically.
Is Google Opal free?
Google describes Opal as publicly available to all users in its supported countries, and it handles the hosting for you.
Does Google train AI on my Opal prompts?
Google says it doesn't use content from Opal, including your prompts and outputs, to train its generative AI models, though a small number may be reviewed by people.
