diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 76a278b..c908aa7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -77,25 +77,80 @@ jobs:
           echo "tag=$PREV_TAG" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
       - name: Generate release notes
+        continue-on-error: true
+        uses: openai/codex-action@a26d2d4d8b78a694338b8e3715c3630254340b2c # v1
+        with:
+          openai-api-key: ${{ secrets.OPENAI_API_KEY }}
+          sandbox: workspace-write
+          safety-strategy: drop-sudo
+          prompt: |
+            Generate release notes for Vizzly CLI ${{ steps.version.outputs.new_version }}.
+
+            Context:
+            - Previous release tag: `${{ steps.prev_version.outputs.tag }}`
+            - New release tag: `${{ steps.version.outputs.new_version }}`
+            - Package version: `${{ steps.version.outputs.package_version }}`
+            - Package name: `@vizzly-testing/cli`
+
+            Instructions:
+            1. Use git commands to inspect commits and changed files for this release.
+               - If a previous release tag exists, inspect `${{ steps.prev_version.outputs.tag }}..HEAD`.
+               - If there is no previous release tag, inspect the latest 10 commits.
+            2. Read relevant diffs or files when commit messages are too vague.
+            3. Write concise, user-facing release notes. Keep it grounded in the real diff.
+            4. Use Keep a Changelog-style sections, but omit empty sections.
+            5. Prefer these headings when they apply: `### Added`, `### Changed`, `### Fixed`, `### Developer Experience`.
+            6. Do not invent features, fixes, migration steps, or breaking changes.
+            7. Do not include a raw list of commits or commands run.
+            8. Include a full changelog link at the bottom:
+               - If a previous release tag exists: `**Full Changelog**: https://github.com/vizzly-testing/cli/compare/${{ steps.prev_version.outputs.tag }}...${{ steps.version.outputs.new_version }}`
+               - Otherwise: `**Full Changelog**: https://github.com/vizzly-testing/cli/releases/tag/${{ steps.version.outputs.new_version }}`
+            9. Save the release notes to `RELEASE_NOTES.md`.
+
+            Use this format:
+
+            ## What's Changed
+
+            ### Added
+            - Short, concrete item grounded in the diff.
+
+            ### Changed
+            - Short, concrete item grounded in the diff.
+
+            ### Fixed
+            - Short, concrete item grounded in the diff.
+
+            **Full Changelog**: https://github.com/vizzly-testing/cli/compare/<previous-tag>...<new-tag>
+
+      - name: Read release notes
         id: release_notes
         run: |
-          if [ -n "${{ steps.prev_version.outputs.tag }}" ]; then
-            COMMITS=$(git log ${{ steps.prev_version.outputs.tag }}..HEAD --pretty=format:"- %s")
-            CHANGELOG_URL="https://github.com/vizzly-testing/cli/compare/${{ steps.prev_version.outputs.tag }}...${{ steps.version.outputs.new_version }}"
-          else
-            COMMITS=$(git log --pretty=format:"- %s" -10)
-            CHANGELOG_URL="https://github.com/vizzly-testing/cli/releases/tag/${{ steps.version.outputs.new_version }}"
+          if [ ! -s RELEASE_NOTES.md ]; then
+            if [ -n "${{ steps.prev_version.outputs.tag }}" ]; then
+              CHANGELOG_URL="https://github.com/vizzly-testing/cli/compare/${{ steps.prev_version.outputs.tag }}...${{ steps.version.outputs.new_version }}"
+            else
+              CHANGELOG_URL="https://github.com/vizzly-testing/cli/releases/tag/${{ steps.version.outputs.new_version }}"
+            fi
+
+            {
+              echo "## What's Changed"
+              echo
+              if [ -n "${{ steps.prev_version.outputs.tag }}" ]; then
+                git log ${{ steps.prev_version.outputs.tag }}..HEAD --pretty=format:"- %s"
+              else
+                git log --pretty=format:"- %s" -10
+              fi
+              echo
+              echo
+              echo "**Full Changelog**: $CHANGELOG_URL"
+            } > RELEASE_NOTES.md
           fi
 
           {
             echo 'notes<<RELEASE_EOF'
-            echo "## What's Changed"
-            echo
-            echo "$COMMITS"
-            echo
-            echo "**Full Changelog**: $CHANGELOG_URL"
+            cat RELEASE_NOTES.md
             echo 'RELEASE_EOF'
-          } >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          } >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
       - name: Verify package version is unpublished
         run: |