Oracle AI Database 26ai: Key Features

A converged, AI-native database engineered to run mission-critical workloads while enabling GenAI, vector search, multimodal data, and next-generation application development.

Let’s explore the key features of Oracle AI Database 26ai.

AI Vector Search:
Develop semantic-aware applications using built-in AI Vector Search. Store, index, and query vector embeddings using SQL to power similarity search, natural language retrieval, and Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) directly inside the database.
JSON Relational Duality:
Build applications using relational or JSON access patterns with a single, unified data model. Data is stored once, yet accessed through either relational tables or JSON documents, giving developers flexibility without duplication or complex ORM layers.
JavaScript Stored Procedures:
Develop high-performance applications by writing JavaScript stored procedures powered by GraalVM. Run business logic directly in the data tier to minimize round-trips and accelerate application execution.
JSON Schemas:
Enforce strong data integrity for JSON workloads using industry-standard JSON Schemas. Ensure only valid, well-structured JSON documents enter your database.

Property Graphs:
Model complex relationships and understand patterns across relational and JSON data.
Property graph views and SQL-standard graph queries make graph analytics native, scalable, and easier to deploy.
Data Use Case Domains:
Define reusable domain knowledge that standardizes how applications interpret and use data. Improve consistency, governance, and developer productivity across your data-driven applications.
Schema Annotations:
Enhance collaboration and metadata transparency with lightweight annotations for tables, columns, and views. Share usage properties and context across applications and teams.
Resources:
Provision up to 2 CPUs, 2 GB RAM, and 12 GB of user data; ideal for development, testing, and lightweight workloads.

Overview

Innovations in Oracle AI Database 26ai

Oracle AI Database 26ai is the long-term support release that replaces Oracle Database 23ai. It offers three key focused areas:

1. AI for Data

Bring GenAI, semantic search, and AI-powered insights directly to your mission-critical data — without moving it to external services.

The goal of AI for data is to help:

Application Developers
Easily embed vector search, AI-driven reasoning, and natural language interfaces into apps.
Oracle Database Users
Use GenAI capabilities to accelerate analysis, simplify queries, and unlock new insights from operational, transactional, and analytical data.

AI for Data: Key Features

Next-Generation AI Models & Vector Search

Oracle AI Database 26ai includes advanced AI Vector Search to store embeddings, run similarity queries, and combine semantic search with relational filters using SQL.

Secure In-Database Model Execution

Support for ONNX models allows you to load and execute your own AI models securely inside the database. Objects can be encoded and inferred in real time without sharing sensitive data externally.

Natural Language to SQL

26ai integrates with modern LLMs, enabling users to ask questions in natural language. The system interprets metadata, converts questions into SQL, and returns accurate, governed results.

Deeper Insights Through Machine Learning

Built-in ML algorithms detect patterns, identify anomalies, and predict behaviors. From recommendations to fraud detection, 26ai leverages decades of Oracle ML advancements.

Dev for Data

Oracle AI Database 26ai streamlines modern app development by reducing complexity and merging application logic with data intelligence.

Dev for Data: Key Features

JSON Relational Duality
Use relational or JSON development styles interchangeably, backed by a unified dual representation of data.

Get the flexibility of JSON with the reliability, consistency, and performance of relational storage.
Simplified SQL Enhancements
SQL becomes even more intuitive with:

Boolean and Vector datatypes
Improved readability
Data Use Case Domains

These enhancements make SQL more expressive and easier to adopt for all developers.

Property Graphs for Relationship Insights
Oracle AI Database 26ai supports SQL-integrated graph modeling, enabling powerful graph queries and enterprise-grade relationship analytics.

Mission Critical for Data

Oracle AI Database 26ai continues Oracle’s legacy of powering high-availability, high-performance, always-on systems for enterprise workloads.

Mission Critical for Data: Key Features

Smarter and Faster Sharding
26ai supports Raft-based consensus replication to automate shard configuration and provide sub-second failover. Data is automatically rebalanced during shard failures or reconfiguration.
Enhanced High-Availability & Replication
26ai includes improvements to:
- Local Rolling Maintenance
- Data Guard per Pluggable Database (PDB)
- PDB integration within Oracle Clusterware
These features simplify operations and strengthen continuity.
True Cache: High-Speed Caching Layer
True Cache is a diskless, in-memory Oracle instance positioned in front of the primary database. It accelerates reads with minimal code changes and stays in sync using Active Data Guard.
SQL Firewall for Safer Execution
SQL Firewall learns permitted SQL patterns and blocks unauthorized SQL before execution. This reduces risk, strengthens security, and minimizes performance overhead.