In Oracle Database 23ai, which data type is designated for storing vector embeddings?

In Oracle Database 23ai, the data type specifically designated for storing vector embeddings is VECTOR. This data type is optimized for efficient storage and processing of multi-dimensional vector data, which is particularly important for applications involving machine learning, artificial intelligence, and various numerical computations.

By utilizing the VECTOR data type, developers can take advantage of specific functionalities designed for managing and querying high-dimensional vector data, which is essential in scenarios like nearest neighbor searches and similarity calculations. This specialized data type greatly enhances performance and usability when working with vector embeddings, distinguishing it from other general-purpose data types like BLOB (Binary Large Object) or VARCHAR2 (variable-length character string).

While other data types could theoretically be used to store vector data, the VECTOR type is tailored for the unique characteristics and requirements of embedding representation, making it the most suitable and efficient choice for such tasks.