AI for Opportunity: How CEO Is Advancing Reentry with Innovation and Inclusion
As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms nearly every industry, the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) is leading the way to ensure justice-impacted individuals aren’t left behind. CEO is also pioneering the use of AI to reshape how reentry services are delivered, how staff are supported, and how opportunities are unlocked for thousands of people returning home each year.
A Strategic Investment in Innovation
In 2024, CEO was selected as a recipient of the GitLab Foundation’s AI for Economic Opportunity Fund—a powerful endorsement of our vision to build equity-driven, human-centered AI tools that create economic mobility for people impacted by the justice system. With this funding and technical support, CEO is testing and deploying AI technologies that improve both the participant experience and staff training while positioning the broader field for scalable innovation.
Our AI Strategy: Tools That Work for People
CEO's AI strategy focuses on three core goals:
- Improve quality of services for all participants through personalized, AI-driven support and coaching tools
- Enhance operational efficiency by streamlining staff workflows and reducing administrative burdens
- Optimize services with data-informed models that better tailor our support to each individual's needs
These efforts aim to help participants build confidence and job-readiness more quickly, while giving staff more time to focus on what matters most: personal connection and growth.
Pilots with Purpose
CEO's AI pilots are designed to meet tangible needs, from early-stage prototypes to real-time implementations. Among the current and emerging initiatives:
- Scenario-based training using voice-enabled AI agents allows participants to practice job interviews, customer service interactions, and workplace conversations with instant feedback in a safe environment.
- Resume-building tools help participants craft higher-quality job applications faster, reducing the time from preparation to placement.
- Automated meeting transcription and note generation allow staff to focus on being person-centered in all of their interactions with participants while improving data quality. This not only saves time but also generates insights and feedback.
Designed for Impact
These tools aren’t just efficient—they’re transformational. AI allows CEO to:
- Provide more practice and feedback opportunities for participants
- Deliver services in flexible formats that reflect participants' schedules and learning preferences
- Reduce administrative tasks so staff can focus more of their time on coaching and individualized support
For individuals in reentry who are rebuilding their lives, AI-powered tools can offer a consistent, judgment-free companion on the journey to workforce reentry.
Building a Blueprint for the Field
CEO's approach is grounded in inclusion, transparency, and participant voice. We are committed to developing tools with those we serve, not for them, ensuring our AI efforts are ethically built, rigorously tested, and responsive to real needs. As we continue piloting and scaling, CEO is eager to share learnings and shape a new standard for tech-enabled reentry programming.
What’s Ahead
This work is just getting started. CEO will spend the next year refining pilots, incorporating user feedback, and exploring new solutions such as:
- AI-powered career exploration and skills matching
- Personalized digital coaching pathways
- Scalable mentorship matching based on interests and goals
Our long-term vision is bold: scale AI tools that support every stage of reentry across CEO’s national footprint and bring those solutions to help the broader reentry services ecosystem.
Join Us
Technology should be a bridge, not a barrier. At CEO, we're working to ensure AI opens doors—not just for a few, but for everyone impacted by the justice system. If you believe in the power of equitable innovation, we invite you to follow along, support this work, and help us imagine what's possible. Join our newsletter.
