Why Oracle Database 23ai could be a major Game Changer

Oracle has just released the latest version of its flagship product — Oracle Database 23ai — and it’s making waves not just globally, but here in Aotearoa New Zealand. For local businesses, government agencies, developers, and data professionals, this is more than just another version upgrade. It represents a fundamental shift in how we approach data, AI integration, and application development.

So, what makes Oracle Database 23ai such a potential game changer for New Zealand?

1. AI Built In — Not Bolted On

Oracle Database 23ai introduces AI Vector Search, allowing organisations to integrate generative AI and machine learning models directly into the database. Instead of exporting data to an external AI platform (which can raise latency and privacy issues), Kiwi businesses can now bring the AI to where the data lives.

This is a major breakthrough for industries like agriculture, finance, healthcare, and government — where real-time insights and secure data handling are critical. Imagine a New Zealand hospital system using AI models directly within the database to detect anomalies in patient data instantly, or a bank using vector search to improve fraud detection with lightning speed.

2. Eliminating Data Silos with JSON Relational Duality

New Zealand’s tech ecosystem is filled with modern apps that rely on JSON for flexibility and relational databases for consistency and analytics. Oracle 23ai’s JSON Relational Duality allows developers to store and query JSON and relational data in harmony — no more need to choose one over the other.

This can simplify development pipelines for startups and enterprise teams alike, particularly those working in multi-model environments. It also reduces the complexity of syncing NoSQL and relational systems — a common headache for developers.

3. True Multi-Tenancy at Scale

For cloud-first and SaaS-native businesses in NZ, Oracle’s new multi-tenancy enhancements bring lower TCO and simpler resource management. Whether you’re running applications on OCI, AWS, Azure, or on-prem, the ability to manage thousands of pluggable databases securely within a single container database means greater efficiency, scalability, and easier compliance.

This is especially useful for managed service providers and enterprise IT teams trying to consolidate infrastructure without sacrificing isolation or performance.

4. Built for Sovereignty and Security

In a world where data sovereignty is increasingly important — especially under New Zealand’s Privacy Act and upcoming legislative updates — Oracle 23ai delivers advanced security features like blockchain tables, redaction, and Always Encrypted data.

With sovereign cloud regions already available and expanding, NZ organisations can remain compliant with local regulations while benefiting from global-class infrastructure.

5. Developer Productivity: A First-Class Focus

Oracle is embracing developers like never before. With APEX improvements, SQL macros, and seamless integration with tools like Python, JavaScript, and REST APIs, Oracle Database 23ai reduces time to market for applications built here in NZ.

This means faster prototypes, quicker iteration cycles, and lower overhead for development teams — from government digital services to FinTech startups.

What This Means for NZ

The release of Oracle Database 23ai couldn’t come at a better time. New Zealand is on the cusp of a digital transformation wave — from smarter cities and AI-powered customer experiences to stronger data sovereignty and cloud adoption.

Oracle’s latest innovation empowers our developers, strengthens our businesses, and supports our government’s tech mandates — all while keeping performance, security, and compliance front and centre.

As NZOUG, we’ll be diving deeper into these features in the coming months — through meetups, webinars, and hands-on demos. If you haven’t already, now is the time to explore what Oracle Database 23ai can do for your organisation.

Kia kaha,

Chad Wappes

President, NZOUG