Oracle Database 23ai, released in May 2024, introduces powerful AI-driven enhancements designed to streamline data management and bolster developer productivity. With a new focus on artificial intelligence, the name changed from Oracle 23c to Oracle 23ai to reflect its AI-centric features. This version aims to help developers integrate AI into data-driven applications more easily, while enhancing the capabilities of AI models to generate insights through tools like AI Vector Search, which allows for object similarity searches using vectors.

A key feature is AI for Data, which integrates Generative AI capabilities, helping users from DBAs to data analysts enhance productivity by providing natural language interactions for database queries. Oracle 23ai also allows secure AI model integration directly into the database through ONNX standard support, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected.

Developer productivity also sees a boost with features like JSON Relational Duality, which merges the flexibility of JSON with the power of relational databases. This simplifies application development, offering developers more agility while maintaining data integrity. Oracle 23ai also includes tools like SQL Firewall to enhance security and prevent unauthorized SQL executions.

Overall, Oracle 23ai sets a new standard in database technology by combining AI capabilities with strong development and security enhancements, positioning it as a powerful tool for modern businesses.

For more details, read the full announcement.