What Is Oracle 23ai?
Oracle Database 23ai represents Oracle’s strategic shift toward an AI-native database architecture. Unlike Oracle 19c (long-term support) and 21c (innovation-focused), 23ai embeds artificial intelligence directly into the database engine.
The “AI” in 23ai stands for:
Native Vector Data Type
AI-assisted query optimization
Semantic search capabilities
Modern developer-centric data modeling
For professionals starting their Oracle journey, strong SQL fundamentals remain essential. A solid starting point is:
Oracle Database 12c: Introduction to SQL
For advanced SQL within the 23ai ecosystem:
Oracle Database 23ai: SQL Workshop
Strategic Innovations in Oracle 23ai
AI Vector Search – Bringing Meaning to Data
Oracle 23ai introduces native support for vector data types, enabling:
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures
Semantic similarity search
LLM-powered applications
AI-native enterprise systems
This makes Oracle competitive in modern AI-driven workloads.
Developers who want to explore these new capabilities in depth can refer to:
Oracle Database 23ai: New Features for Developers
JSON Relational Duality – Hybrid Data Modeling
One of the most transformative features in 23ai is JSON Relational Duality, allowing the same data to be represented as:
A relational table
A JSON document
Benefits include:
API-first application development
Reduced ORM complexity
Greater flexibility in microservice architectures
No performance trade-off between relational and document models
This significantly modernizes Oracle’s data architecture approach.
Administration & Zero Trust Security
Oracle 23ai strengthens database administration with:
AI-driven access policies
Enhanced auditing mechanisms
Improved privilege management
Cloud-native architecture alignment
Zero Trust security framework
DBAs aiming to master 23ai administration should consider:
Oracle Database 23ai: Administration Workshop
Performance & AI-Driven Tuning
Oracle 23ai introduces smarter performance management:
AI-assisted execution plan analysis
Automated index recommendations
Improved memory management
Faster analytical queries
For professionals focused on database optimization:
Oracle Database: Performance Management and Tuning
Oracle 23ai vs Previous Versions
| Feature | 12c | 19c | 21c | 23ai |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-Term Support | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Expected |
| Native AI | ❌ | ❌ | Partial | ✅ |
| JSON Duality | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Vector Search | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Enterprise Readiness | High | Very High | Medium | Very High |
| Area | Oracle 19c | Oracle 21c | Oracle 23ai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Strategy | Long Term Support | Innovation Release | AI-First Database |
| AI Capabilities | Limited ML Integrations | Enhanced ML | Native AI + Vector Search |
| JSON Support | Advanced | Improved | JSON Relational Duality |
| Performance | Stable & Mature | Experimental Enhancements | AI-Driven Optimization |
| Security | Advanced Security | Blockchain Tables | Zero Trust + Intelligent Policies |
| Developer Experience | SQL & PL/SQL | AutoML | AI-Enhanced SQL |
Oracle 23ai and Certification Path
The evolution of Oracle 23ai significantly impacts Oracle certification tracks.
Oracle Certified Associate (OCA)
Focus Areas:
SQL fundamentals
Data modeling
Core database concepts
Strong SQL knowledge is essential for this level.
Oracle Certified Professional (OCP)
Focus Areas:
Database administration
Performance tuning
Backup & recovery
Security management
With 23ai, AI-related features are expected to become increasingly relevant in certification objectives.
Relevant training paths include:
SQL specialization:
Oracle Database 23ai: SQL Workshop
Administration focus:
Oracle Database 23ai: Administration Workshop
Oracle Certified Master (OCM)
Focus Areas:
Advanced architecture
Disaster recovery
High availability (RAC, Data Guard)
Enterprise-scale deployments
Modern OCM-level expertise now requires understanding AI-ready database infrastructures.
Oracle 23ai & PL/SQL Ecosystem
While 23ai does not radically change PL/SQL syntax, it enhances how PL/SQL interacts with:
JSON data structures
AI-driven workloads
Modern API integrations
Advanced PL/SQL developers can deepen their expertise via:
Oracle Database: PL/SQL Workshop
Who Should Move to Oracle 23ai?
Oracle 23ai is ideal for:
Enterprises implementing AI projects
Financial institutions with advanced data analytics
Organizations adopting microservices
IT professionals pursuing Oracle certifications
Companies modernizing legacy Oracle deployments
Oracle 23ai is not merely a version upgrade. It is Oracle’s transition into an AI-first database era.
It delivers:
Native AI integration
Intelligent performance management
Advanced security architecture
Developer-friendly hybrid data modeling
Future-ready enterprise scalability
For professionals building a long-term Oracle career, Oracle 23ai is no longer optional — it is strategic.