Oracle 26ai Set to Bring AI Capabilities to Linux On-Premise Users
The newly released Oracle Database 26ai supersedes 23ai, establishing itself as a unified, AI-native platform designed for large-scale production use.
Crucially, Oracle has announced a significant policy shift: 26ai will be downloadable for Linux on-premise users from January 2026. This makes AI capabilities accessible to organisations that were previously unable or unwilling to move to the cloud.
This analysis will detail the changes introduced by 26ai, explore its implications for all users, and specifically address its importance for users currently running 19c deployments.
What is Oracle Database 26ai?
Oracle Database 26ai is the successor to the 23ai release, fundamentally redesigning Oracle’s main database product to be deeply AI-native.
In version 26ai, Artificial Intelligence is integrated directly into the database’s core framework rather than being a superficial addition. This architectural change ensures that AI benefits are inherently available across all types of workloads, including search, analytics, workflow and application development interfaces.
Why choose Oracle Database 26ai
- Maintain compliance: Upgrading ensures you have access to advanced built-in security features.
- Multimodal Data Integration: 26ai goes beyond simple AI vector search by seamlessly combining vector data with traditional relational, JSON, graph, and spatial data types. This enables sophisticated, complex searches across all your data formats.
- Agent-like AI Workflows: The database supports open standards, like the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing users to create, execute, and manage AI agents directly within the database environment. This enhances security while enabling powerful, advanced AI functionality.
- AI-powered analytics and application development: 26ai boosts AI-enabled applications, mixed-data analytics, and Lakehouse architectures through features like a unified data model, AI-powered SQL, and inherent enterprise-level scalability.
- Built-in AI features: Many advanced AI features, including vector search, are included at no additional cost.
- Flexible deployment options: Enterprises gain maximum flexibility with the choice to deploy 26ai on-premise, via private cloud appliances, or within public cloud services. This allows for optimised balancing of control, compliance, performance and cost.
Why is the Oracle 26ai release significant for 19c users?
The availability of Oracle AI Database 26ai for download on on-premise Linux platforms starting January 2026 is momentous for organisations still using Oracle Database 19c who have resisted cloud migration.
Previously, accessing Oracle’s advanced AI features required moving to their cloud-managed services. This created an insurmountable barrier for companies bound by strict data sovereignty laws, reliant on legacy infrastructure; and cloud restricting, or cloud limiting policies.
With the 26ai on-prem release (delivered via Release Update 23.26.1 in January 2026 for Linux x86-64), these limitations are removed. Organisations that deferred adopting AI to avoid a forced cloud transition can now move forward.
Specifically, this means 19c users can benefit from:
- Simplified pathway: Enabling a straightforward upgrade route from 19c.
- Immediate access to AI features: Gain modern AI functionality within current database infrastructure.
- Non-disruptive modernisation: Through the opportunity to refresh applications, analytics, and AI workflows without major overhauls, since 26ai preserves much of the existing database architecture and APIs.
- Reduced risk: Version 26ai enables organisations to overcome hesitancy of AI adoption by removing barriers commonly associated with cloud migrations, such as data governance, compliance, latency and political risk.
- Long-term stability: This is a long-term support release, meaning 26ai offers sustained access to cutting-edge AI features, with the reassurance that support policies are inherited from 23ai.
Our 26ai Upgrade Preparation
If you’re managing Oracle database deployments, this is a strategic opportunity for us to help. We assist with:
Auditing your existing installations
We can identify deployments running 19c or 21c to highlight opportunities to directly upgrade to 26ai, once available.
Re-evaluation of compliance, security and risk posture
On top of 26ai’s built-in measures, governance and mitigation features such as data privacy protection, SQL firewall and enterprise controls, our team utilise Oracle’s DBSAT tool to provide a security assessment that can further help to identify known vulnerabilities.
Liaising with decision-makers in advance
Involving us in early discussions with various parties, including application developers, compliance personnel and infrastructure/ops, can help ensure a smooth and successful upgrade. Our expert DBAs are database-focused, yet fully cognisant of business considerations regarding how your Oracle estate fits into the wider architecture of your company.
End-to-end planning
Xynomix has substantial experience performing Oracle database upgrades. From plotting your upgrade pathway to project delivery and even on-going support, our experts thrive in the detail of end-to-end planning and execution of your Oracle upgrade. Get in touch to learn how we can help.
Final note
Regardless of whether you currently operate on-premise or in the Cloud, Oracle Database 26ai marks a profound and lasting evolution in the AI capabilities available to Oracle users.
To determine the optimal strategy for integrating 26ai within your enterprise, please book a call with one of our experts. Furthermore, please explore detailed information regarding our Oracle Database upgrade services.
Get database support
Complete the form to get database assistance
"*" indicates required fields
