Clerk has introduced a new Gatsby plugin, gatsby-plugin-clerk, designed to simplify the process of adding authentication and user management to Gatsby applications. By wrapping the ClerkProvider component around the entire Gatsby app, the plugin helps keep the layout component cleaner and centralizes configuration within the gatsby-config.js file. Developers can easily integrate this plugin by installing the necessary packages and configuring the frontendApi key, which should be set as an environment variable for security. The plugin allows the use of components like SignedIn and SignedOut, enabling seamless authentication management. Additionally, a Clerk + Gatsby starter repository is available to further streamline the integration process, offering examples of using Gatsby's serverless functions with Clerk's backend API. Deployment on Gatsby Cloud is simplified through a straightforward process, although developers must ensure they add the necessary environment variables and manage permissions for repository creation in their GitHub account. For further assistance, Clerk provides documentation and support through their Discord server.