Short answer: Oracle AI Database 26ai is Oracle’s new flagship database, announced on October 14, 2025 as the successor to Oracle Database 23ai. It builds AI directly into the data layer through AI Vector Search, Select AI and in-database AI agents, and Oracle says the new AI capabilities come at no additional charge. Customers already on 23ai move to 26ai by applying the October 2025 release update, with no database upgrade or application re-certification.
What is Oracle AI Database 26ai?
For decades, the database was where invoices, journal entries and stock balances lived, while AI ran somewhere else on copies of that data. Oracle’s bet with 26ai is the opposite: bring AI to the data instead of shipping data to AI.
Oracle unveiled the release at Oracle AI World on October 14, 2025, describing it as a release that “architects AI into the core of data management.” It replaces Oracle Database 23ai, so this is not a side product; it is Oracle’s mainstream database going forward.
The detail IT leaders care about most: according to Oracle, 23ai customers simply apply the October 2025 release update to get the 26ai features, and “there is no database upgrade or application re-certification required.”
Key AI capabilities
AI Vector Search
Vector search finds data by meaning rather than exact keywords. A buyer searching for “suppliers who repeatedly delivered late” can surface relevant records and notes even when different wording was used. Oracle confirms AI Vector Search is included at no additional charge.
Oracle also introduced Unified Hybrid Vector Search, which combines vector similarity with relational, text, JSON, graph and spatial predicates in a single query. Think “customers in Jeddah who complained about a specific product last quarter” answered in one statement.
Select AI
Select AI turns natural-language questions into SQL (NL2SQL), supports retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), synthetic data generation and multi-turn conversations. Oracle’s May 2026 guide notes that 26ai adds Feedback and Auto Object Selection to NL2SQL, and that RAG requires 26ai because it depends on AI Vector Search, which is not available in 19c.
Select AI Agent and MCP
An agent does more than chat: it interprets a request and takes steps, such as querying, calculating or calling an external service. Select AI Agent is a framework to define, run and govern agents inside Oracle Autonomous AI Database, using in-database tools, REST tools or MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers. Oracle also announced AI Private Agent Factory, a no-code agent builder delivered as a container in the customer’s environment. Several of these items were announced as product direction, so availability varies by platform and date.
Security and converged data
- Quantum-resistant encryption for data in flight using NIST-approved ML-KEM, alongside quantum-resistant encryption for data at rest.
- An in-database SQL Firewall.
- The same data accessible as relational tables, JSON documents or graphs, without copying it into separate systems.
Availability
| Platform | Status |
|---|---|
| Autonomous AI Database on OCI | Initial release (October 2025) |
| Exadata Database Service, Base Database Service | Initial release |
| Oracle Database@Azure, @Google Cloud, @AWS | Initial release |
| On-premises Linux x86-64 (Enterprise and Free) | January 2026 release update (23.26.1) |
| Exadata Cloud@Customer, Compute Cloud@Customer, Database Appliance | Listed among supported on-premises platforms |
| Oracle AI Database 26ai Free | Free, up to 2 CPU threads, 2 GB RAM, 12 GB user data |
What it means for businesses
- Data stays put: running AI inside the database reduces the need to copy financial and personal data to external platforms, and existing access controls still apply.
- Cheaper experimentation: with AI features included, teams can pilot use cases without buying a separate AI platform.
- Lower upgrade risk: moving from 23ai via a release update rather than a full upgrade shortens downtime.
- Self-service answers: managers can ask questions in plain language instead of waiting for custom reports.
- Task-oriented agents: following up overdue invoices or suggesting purchase orders when stock runs low, with clear limits on what the agent may do.
Why it matters for Saudi companies
Saudi businesses operate under clear rules: the Personal Data Protection Law, NCA cybersecurity controls and ZATCA e-invoicing. In-database AI fits that environment well:
- Governance first: applying AI to invoices, payroll and customer data requires tight permissions, which is easier when AI runs where the data and its security already live.
- Local hosting: Oracle operates two public cloud regions in the Kingdom, Jeddah and Riyadh, so cloud-based 26ai features can be combined with in-Kingdom data hosting.
- Arabic content: semantic search can improve search across Arabic item descriptions, notes and contracts, provided you choose an embedding model with strong Arabic support.
- Start small: pick one use case with clear value, such as smart item search or returns analysis, before scaling.
Where Riv-ERP fits
Riv-ERP is a Saudi-made ERP and accounting system built on Oracle Database and Oracle APEX. Its technical foundation sits in the same stack Oracle is now evolving toward AI, rather than treating AI as an external add-on disconnected from your data. Riv-ERP covers accounting, sales, purchasing, multi-warehouse inventory, POS, HR and payroll, manufacturing and costing, and is compliant with ZATCA e-invoicing Phase 1 and Phase 2. To discuss how your business can make smarter use of its data, request a quote from the Riv-ERP team in Jeddah.
Related Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
How is 26ai different from Oracle Database 23ai?
26ai replaces 23ai and adds new AI capabilities such as Unified Hybrid Vector Search and the Select AI Agent framework. 23ai customers get 26ai features by applying the October 2025 release update.
Do the AI features cost extra?
Oracle states that the new AI capabilities, including AI Vector Search, are available at no additional charge. Core database licensing or cloud subscription costs still apply.
When did 26ai become available on-premises?
Enterprise and Free editions for Linux x86-64 became available with the January 2026 release update (23.26.1), after the cloud launch in October 2025.
Can I try 26ai for free?
Yes. Oracle AI Database 26ai Free supports up to 2 CPU threads, 2 GB of database RAM and 12 GB of user data, and runs on Windows, Oracle Linux and on Macs via Docker.
What is MCP and why does it matter here?
The Model Context Protocol is a standard way for AI models to use external tools and data sources. Select AI Agent can use MCP servers as agent tools, making it easier to connect agents to other systems.
Is 26ai relevant to small and mid-sized companies?
Yes, usually indirectly: SMEs benefit through business applications built on Oracle Database, while the solution provider handles database administration and upgrades.
Sources: Oracle press release on 26ai, Oracle Database blog, Oracle AI Database Free.
