Other database updates include the availability of an Azure Database for PostgreSQL extension for Azure AI and the addition of Copilot capabilities to Azure SQL DB. Credit: Shutterstock Microsoft released multiple updates to its database offerings at its Build 2024 conference. One of the major updates to its database offerings includes the addition of vector search to Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL. Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL, which is a non-relational database service, is a part of the larger Azure Cosmos DB database offering, a distributed database which implements a set of different consistency models enabling users to trade off performance against latency in their applications. Fundamentally, NoSQL databases do away with SQL databases’ constraints of data types and consistency in order to achieve more speed, flexibility, and scale. Azure Cosmos DB supports working with different data models, including APIs for MongoDB and Apache Cassandra. The database also has a flavor of PostgreSQL. Last year at Build, Microsoft had introduced vector search to Cosmos DB, building on the company’s Cosmos DB for MongoDB vCore service. The vector search in Cosmos DB for NoSQL, according to the company, is powered by DiskANN—a suite of scalable approximate nearest neighbor search algorithms that support real-time changes. In addition, the company also made the Azure Database for PostgreSQL extension for Azure AI generally available in order to bring AI capabilities to data in PostgreSQL. “This enables developers who prefer PostgreSQL to plug data directly into Azure AI for a simplified path to leverage LLMs and build rich PostgreSQL generative AI experiences,” the company said in a statement. Additionally, the company said it is working to add an embeddings generation feature inside its Azure Database for PostgreSQL offering. The new feature, which is currently in preview, can generate embeddings within the database. Further, the company said it was adding more capabilities to Copilot inside databases to help developers, including adding the ability to provide summaries of technical documentation in response to user questions inside Azure Database for MySQL. In March, the company announced a private preview of Copilot in Azure SQL Database in order to offer natural language to SQL conversion, along with self-help for database administration. Related content analysis Beyond the usual suspects: 5 fresh data science tools to try today The mid-month report includes quick tips for easier Python installation, a new VS Code-like IDE just for Python and R users, and five newer data science tools you won't want to miss. By Serdar Yegulalp Jul 12, 2024 2 mins Python Programming Languages Software Development analysis Generative AI won’t fix cloud migration You’ve probably heard how generative AI will solve all cloud migration problems. It’s not that simple. Generative AI could actually make it harder and more costly. By David Linthicum Jul 12, 2024 5 mins Generative AI Artificial Intelligence Cloud Computing news HR professionals trust AI recommendations HireVue survey finds 73% of HR professionals trust AI to make candidate recommendations, while 75% of workers are opposed to AI making hiring decisions. By Paul Krill Jul 11, 2024 3 mins Technology Industry Careers how-to Safety off: Programming in Rust with `unsafe` What does it mean to write unsafe code in Rust, and what can you do (and not do) with the 'unsafe' keyword? The facts may surprise you. By Serdar Yegulalp Jul 11, 2024 8 mins Rust Programming Languages Software Development Resources Videos