At the heart of Oracle Database 23ai is the introduction of AI Vector Search. This groundbreaking feature simplifies the process of querying large volumes of data based on semantic similarity rather than exact matches. It allows developers and data scientists to easily compare and find relationships between various data types, including documents, images, and other unstructured data, by representing them as vectors. This is particularly powerful when combined with Large Language Models (LLMs), enabling natural language queries against existing business data while maintaining data security and control within the database.

Oracle Database 23ai is designed to work seamlessly with generative AI. It allows organizations to load their own trusted AI models directly into the database, keeping sensitive information within their control. This integration facilitates the development of applications that can understand and generate human-like text, summarize complex information, and even create new content based on the data stored within the Oracle database.

Key Features and Enhancements for Technical Professionals

Beyond its headline AI capabilities, Oracle Database 23ai brings a host of other enhancements relevant to DBAs and technical users:

• Enhanced Developer Productivity: With features like AI Vector Search and improved integration with development tools and languages (including Java and SQL optimizations), 23ai aims to accelerate application development. Oracle Code Assist, often mentioned in conjunction with 23ai, further boosts developer velocity by providing AI-powered assistance for coding tasks.
• Improved Performance and Scalability: As with every Oracle Database release, 23ai includes numerous under-the-hood improvements to enhance performance, scalability, and reliability for demanding enterprise workloads.
• GoldenGate 23ai Support: The synergy between Oracle Database 23ai and GoldenGate 23ai is critical. GoldenGate 23ai supports the new database features and includes over a hundred updates to its portfolio, allowing enterprises to quickly bring AI to their data, improve usability, and enhance developer APIs for data replication and integration.
• Focus on Modern Data Types and Workloads: The database continues to evolve to support emerging data types and complex analytical workloads, ensuring it remains a versatile platform for modern data challenges.

Strategic Importance in Oracle’s Ecosystem

The release of Oracle Database 23ai is a cornerstone of Oracle’s broader

AI strategy, enabling businesses to leverage their data with advanced AI functionalities directly within the trusted environment of the Oracle Database. It empowers developers to build more intelligent applications faster and provides DBAs with a powerful platform ready for the next generation of data-driven innovation.

For Oracle professionals, staying abreast of Oracle Database 23ai’s features and capabilities will be key to unlocking new potentials in data management and application development throughout 2024 and beyond.

References: Based on information from Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Blogs, including “What’s New: May 2024” (May 22, 2024) and “What’s New: June 2024” (June 24, 2024), and announcements from Oracle CloudWorld 2024.