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SQL Server 2025 Private Preview – Built-in AI, Fabric connectivity, Native JSON, and many more…
On 19th November 2024 Microsoft announced the Private Preview of SQL Server upcoming version i.e. SQL Server 2025 !!!
This v-Next version emphasizes modern AI and Generative AI (GenAI) capabilities powered by Microsoft Copilot and contemporary Large Language Models (LLMs). These capabilities align with the latest advancements in GenAI, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Meta’s Llama, etc. It also integrates Semantic Kernel, LangChain, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) functionalities, positioning it as an enterprise-ready AI database !!!
>> Built-in AI:
– SQL Server 2025 will be having Vector Database capabilities
— New native Vector datatype
— Vector search capabilities by using new vector functions VECTOR_DISTANCE() for calculating euclidean, cosine, and negative dot distance between two vectors.
— Vector index powered by DiskANN (Disk based Approximate Nearest Neighbor)
— I will be posting more about this topic in my upcoming blogs…
– Can call REST APIs with sp_invoke_external_rest_endpoint system Stored Procedure for calling LLMs
– Semanic Kernel integration, for semantic search capabilities for more intuitive data retrieval and analysis
– LangChain integration, by enabling seamless interaction between natural language queries and structured database operations
>> Fabric Mirroring:
– Mirroring replicates databases to Fabric with zero ETL
– Data is replicated into One Lake and kept up-to-date in near real-time
– Mirroring protects operational databases from analytical queries
– Compute replication is included with your Fabric capacity for no cost.
– Free Mirroring Storage for Replicas tiered to Fabric Capacity.
>> Other Database engine new features:
– Native JSON datatype, index, and functions
– Regular Expression (Regex) support, with new functions used at CHECK constraint, WHERE clause, SELECT list
– Copilot/GenAI in SSMS (Ver 21) for SQL query/code completions and recommendations
– Enhancements in Performance and Scalability
– Optimized locking for reducing memory lock consumption and minimizing concurrent transactions blocking through Transaction ID (TID) Locking and Lock After Qualification (LAQ)
– Real time event streaming to Azure Event Hubs and Kafka, by capturing and publishing incremental changes to data and schema
>> SQL Server setup – Feature selection:

Signup for the SQL Server 2025 Private Preview program here: https://aka.ms/sqleapsignup
>> References:
– https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/blog/2024/11/19/announcing-microsoft-sql-server-2025-apply-for-the-preview-for-the-enterprise-ai-ready-database/
– https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/announcing-sql-server-2025-bob-ward-6s0hc/
– https://ignite.microsoft.com/en-US/sessions/BRK195
Azure SQL Database in Fabric Public Preview
The SQL Server and Azure SQL team is revolutionizing AI app development with the Public Preview of SQL Database in Fabric which was announced at the Microsoft Ignite conference. Try it for free today!
With SQL Database in Fabric, you can:
- Accelerate AI app development with speed, simplicity, and enhanced security.
- Unify operational and analytics workloads on a single, seamless platform.
- Leverage an autonomous, optimized, and secure design tailored for the AI era.
- SQL database in Fabric lands all your data in OneLake in near-real time for analytics and AI
- Get started for free – no charges until January 1, 2025!
Key Highlights:
- Simple: Deploy databases in seconds, integrate seamlessly with OneLake, and leverage AI-assisted tools like Copilot.
- Autonomous: Automatic scaling, optimization, and high availability.
- Optimized for AI: Native vector and RAG support, API-driven model calls, and integration with Azure AI services and Azure AI Foundry.
- Compatibility with popular frameworks such as LangChain and Semantic Kernel.
Learning:
We have multiple resources to help you, and your teams swiftly ramp up on Fabric Databases:
- Explore the documentation and build with our end-to-end tutorials
- Skill up with the new Fabric Databases learn modules
- Watch new Data Exposed episodes starting Thursday, November 21st
- Watch the new Microsoft Mechanics episode dropping this week
- Get the latest product news here on the Fabric updates blog
- Join the community for a free live learning series starting on December 3rd
We would like to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to to all the customers who participated in the SQL Database in Fabric Private Preview and shared their valuable feedback with us!




