April 2025, Release Update 23.8

Included are some notable Oracle AI Vector Search updates with Oracle AI Database 26ai, Release Update 23.8.

Note:

If you are using RAC instances, certain features must be enabled using Oracle RAC two-stage rolling updates to ensure that any patches are enabled on all nodes. For more information, see Oracle Real Application Clusters Administration and Deployment Guide.

Feature	Description
Custom JavaScript Distance Function	In addition to the availability of built-in vector distance functions, you can now create your own custom distance function. The Multilingual Engine (MLE) is used to create a JavaScript function that defines the distance operation of your choice. The custom distance function can be used in similarity searches and in the creation of HNSW vector indexes. Custom Distance Function
Automatic Vector Pool sizing with on-premises deployments	The vector memory pool can be configured to dynamically grow to meet the sizing needs for creating HNSW indexes. This is now supported for both Oracle Autonomous AI Databases and non-Autonomous AI databases. Size the Vector Pool
`SPARSE` support in PL/SQL	PL/SQL now natively supports the creation and declaration of `SPARSE` vectors. If using RAC instances, you must enable Patch 37535524 using Oracle RAC two-stage rolling updates. SPARSE Vectors Oracle AI Database PL/SQL Language Reference
New table function: `DBMS_HYBRID_VECTOR.SEARCHPIPELINE`	In addition to the existing `DBMS_HYBRID_VECTOR.SEARCH` API, the new table function `DBMS_HYBRID_VECTOR.SEARCHPIPELINE` returns a pipeline of row records. SEARCHPIPELINE
New function: `DBMS_HYBRID_VECTOR.GET_SQL`	`DBMS_HYBRID_VECTOR.GET_SQL` function displays the internal SQL query that is executed for `DBMS_HYBRID_VECTOR.SEARCH`. GET_SQL
`FILTER_BY` support in `DBMS_HYBRID_VECTOR.SEARCH`	A `FILTER_BY` field is added in the `SEARCH` API of the `DBMS_HYBRID_VECTOR` package. The `FILTER_BY` field allows you to narrow the search results using standard relational logical constraints. FILTER_BY
Using JSON in Included Columns with IVF Indexes	Restrictions have been removed on JSON, `BLOB`, and `CLOB` data types, enabling broader and more flexible usage of these data types in included columns. Included Columns

Parent topic: Oracle AI Database 26ai Release Updates