From international hiring to daily HR compliance support
I first heard about Gia at the SHRM AI + HI Conference in April 2025. AI was dominating headlines, and I was curious to see what it could do for HR and employment research. Around the same time, two of our U.S.-based employees were relocating internationally, and we wanted to support them, so we teamed up with G-P as our employer of record (EOR).
ISTS may be small, but we have a big footprint. With just over 40 global employees, we administer programs for clients across industries and help award more than $147 million annually in educational assistance funding. That scale requires us to operate efficiently and confidently.
Since our founding in 1985, innovation has been part of our DNA. We’ve always looked for smarter ways to support students and the organizations that invest in them. Exploring tools like AI is a natural extension of that mindset.
When G-P told us about their new AI-powered global HR agent, Gia, I was intrigued. We started experimenting with Gia right away, and it quickly became a daily resource.
From endless internet searches to instant answers
Before Gia, I would do a web search whenever I had questions about employment compliance. It would take hours and often gave unreliable results. As a small organization without an internal legal team, that research burden fell entirely on me and it added up quickly. Now, Gia gives me expert-vetted, documented answers I can rely on, and I save roughly 10 hours each week using it — time I can reinvest into supporting our team and ensuring we deliver exceptional service to the organizations and students who rely on us.
Gia pulls from verified sources to answer compliance questions across 50 countries and 50 U.S. states. I’ve been using it for questions about the 14 U.S. states where we employ people, and it’s been a huge time-saver. Not only do I get the information I need, but I also get links to official sources, so I can move forward confidently knowing we’re compliant.
Being fairly new to the world of EORs and only having a few employees outside the U.S., I initially underestimated the impact Gia would have on our team. Gia thinks like a lawyer, and I realized I could ask any question about employment compliance and get a clear answer — without the billable hours.
Real-time guidance for real-world HR
Gia gave me insights I wouldn't have come across on my own. I'm a naturally curious person, so I often ask follow-up questions. It's always one step ahead and gives me documentation I can use for more in-depth research if needed. For example, I was able to compare time-off policies across every location where we have employees in minutes — something that previously would have required researching each state and country's regulations separately. Having that level of clarity and documentation gives me peace of mind that we're getting it right every time.
Why I rely on Gia for global HR compliance
Overall, the biggest benefit for me has been the amount of time I’ve saved finding legally accurate answers to employment-related questions. Gia gives me the information I need in a fraction of the time it would take to find it on my own. It’s like having a knowledgeable HR compliance assistant available 24/7. Gia has helped me feel more confident, efficient, and proactive — whether I’m supporting international employees or ensuring compliance across our U.S. workforce.
For ISTS, that confidence matters. When our HR foundation is strong, we can stay focused on what truly drives us: helping organizations invest in education and empowering students around the world to reach their full potential.
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Gia is agentic AI for global HR. Ditch the guesswork and get the guidance you need to manage your international workforce with confidence.