Gap Inc. is using an AI tool called Bridgette to handle hiring chores as it expects about 200,000 seasonal job applications. Here is what that means if you apply.
Gap Inc. has launched an AI hiring tool named Bridgette just as holiday hiring begins. The company expects around 200,000 seasonal job applications this year. If you apply for a seasonal job there, an AI tool may be the first thing you deal with, not a store manager.
Bridgette was built partly to free store managers from the paperwork and coordination that come with recruiting. Gap Inc. started testing it in June at more than 100 stores and six regional distribution centers. Now it is in place for the holiday rush.
The numbers so far give a sense of scale:
Amy Thompson, Gap Inc.'s chief people officer, said holiday hiring moves quickly but should still feel personal. She said the company is using AI to remove unnecessary friction for candidates and teams. In her words, technology can manage the repetitive coordination behind hiring while people stay focused on the conversations and decisions that build great teams.
Gap is not alone in bracing for a busy season, but the wider job market looks mixed. Challenger, Gray & Christmas predicts U.S. retail seasonal hiring could fall 2.5% from a year ago, to about 450,000 new jobs in the fourth quarter. The National Retail Federation expects retailers to hire between 325,000 and 375,000 seasonal workers. Last year's range was 265,000 to 365,000.
Gap Inc. is also using AI on the shopping side. Alta Daily suggests outfits based on a customer's budget, schedule and local weather forecast. Daydream offers outfit ideas from search queries, using products from Gap and its sister brands. In its most recent quarter, net sales fell 2% to $3.7 billion.
Move quickly and keep an eye on your messages. Since a tool may handle your first contact and your interview booking, double-check the date and time of any interview it sets up.
Gap Inc. did not immediately say how many seasonal positions it hopes to fill. The material also does not spell out how much of each application Bridgette handles, or whether people can ask to deal with a human instead.
If you apply for a Gap seasonal job, expect an AI tool to reach you first, reply fast and confirm your interview time.
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