Oracle is releasing a new version of what was previously called Oracle Database 23c but is now known as Oracle Database 23ai. Not surprisingly, AI plays a central role.

Stop saying Oracle Database 23c and say Oracle Database 23ai. Oracle is jumping on the mobile AI hype and changing the name of the product due to some AI-related new features. Oracle highlights a handful of innovations.

The new AI Vector Search stands out. This feature includes a new vector data type, indexing and querying via SQL. This is intended to help store and search the semantic content of documents, images and other forms of unstructured data in efficient searches. The functionality meets the need of today’s AI applications to provide answers not only based on their training data, but also based on current business data.

RAG

In this regard, Oracle Database also supports 23ai Get extended generation (RAG), where LLMs can support their answers with data from the user. JSON Relational Duality also makes its debut in this version. This combines relational data models with document data models. Oracle goes into detail about the new technical possibilities in its blog post.

Oracle has been working on the product for a while and released it free to developers in early 2023. With the renaming to Oracle Database 23ai, Oracle is now making the solution generally available. Oracle Database 23ai is now available through Oracle Exadata Cloud@Customer, OCI Exadata Database Service, and OCI Base Database Service. Customers can also get started using the Azure Oracle Database Service.

Does everything have to be AI?

As a small detail, we wonder if it is really necessary to dress everything in an AI costume. Oracle undoubtedly believes it is setting itself apart with the name change, but feels a little vulnerable to hype. Furthermore, if everything and everyone becomes AI, stuffing AI into the name won’t be so unique anymore.