Oracle CloudWorld 2024 Keynote Summaries

Sep 12, 2024 | Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Oracle CloudWorld

The keynotes from day 1 Oracle CloudWorld 2024, held on September 10, spotlighted several significant themes centered around AI, cloud innovation, and partnerships. Oracle CEO Safra Catz opened the event, emphasizing how businesses are solving complex challenges using Oracle’s cloud and AI technologies. Catz introduced high-profile partners and customers, including MGM Resorts, Cloudflare, BNP Paribas, and even the CIA, each sharing insights on how Oracle’s technology is transforming their operations.

OCW 2024 Safra Catz CIA

A major announcement involved Oracle’s expanding partnerships, including a collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to offer Oracle Database@AWS, which simplifies multi-cloud operations. Catz highlighted Oracle’s vision of creating a seamless experience across different cloud providers, helping businesses improve security, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Safra Catz’s Opening Keynote

Oracle CEO Safra Catz started the event by emphasizing Oracle’s commitment to assisting businesses in succeeding in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world. She pointed out how companies are using Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and Autonomous Database to enhance operational efficiency, improve customer experiences, and control costs. She consistently emphasized the importance of partnerships and multi-cloud strategies, which are now essential as businesses navigate complex cloud environments.

Key announcements:

Oracle’s expanded partnerships with AWS and Google Cloud. These collaborations allow businesses to run Oracle Database services, including Oracle Autonomous Database, across these platforms. This opens up Oracle’s cloud technologies to a wider audience, enhancing cross-cloud operability.
Oracle Database@AWS: A new service enabling businesses to access Oracle’s Autonomous Database on Amazon Web Services with unified support, billing, and administration across platforms.

With Oracle Database@Google Cloud, customers will for the first time get direct access to Oracle Database services running on OCI and deployed in Google Cloud datacenters. They can now take advantage of Oracle’s industry-leading database and Exadata technology to accelerate innovation and develop new applications. In addition, customers can run applications on Oracle Linux, which is now supported by Oracle on Google Cloud. Oracle Linux images can be imported using Google Cloud’s virtual disk image import process. Within the next 12 months, customers are also expected to be able to streamline Oracle Linux image provisioning in Google Compute Engine with ready-to-use images.

Larry Ellison’s Keynote on Oracle’s Vision and Strategy

Co-founder and CTO Larry Ellison’s keynote reinforced Oracle’s vision for the future of cloud computing, focusing on how AI and automation will reshape industries. Ellison discussed Oracle’s strategy of integrating AI deeply into its cloud offerings, particularly around data analytics, business processes, and decision-making automation.

OCW 2024 Larry Multi-Cloud

He highlighted:

Oracle’s AI-driven Fusion Applications and Autonomous Database, which help businesses automate repetitive tasks, reduce errors, and improve decision-making speed.
The importance of multi-cloud capabilities, stressing Oracle’s commitment to building seamless multi-cloud experiences, particularly with AWS and Google Cloud, as demonstrated by Oracle Database@AWS and Oracle Database@Google Cloud.

OCW 2024 Oracle Database at AWS

We are seeing huge demand from customers that want to use multiple clouds. To meet this demand and give customers the choice and flexibility they want, Amazon and Oracle are seamlessly connecting AWS services with the very latest Oracle Database technology, including the Oracle Autonomous Database. With Oracle Cloud Infrastructure deployed inside of AWS datacenters, we can provide customers with the best possible database and network performance.

OCW 2024 Oracle Cloud Data Centers

Ellison also mentioned Oracle’s commitment to autonomous security, showcasing how Oracle is leveraging AI to combat cybersecurity threats such as ransomware and identity theft. This next-gen technology aims to autonomously detect and mitigate cyber risks across networks, reflecting Oracle’s push toward more secure and efficient cloud environments.

Juan Loaiza’s Keynote on Generative Data Dev and App Dev

Juan Loaiza, Oracle’s Executive Vice President of Mission-Critical Database Technologies, introduced the concept of Generative Data Development (GenDev), a transformative approach to application and data development powered by AI. This new development paradigm allows enterprise applications to be generated automatically, focusing on both data and application logic without the need for manual coding.

Juan Loaiza Keynote on Generative Data Dev and App Dev_Oracle CloudWorld 2024

Here are the key highlights:

AI-Centric Development: The introduction of Oracle Database 23ai, the engine behind this shift, enables developers to harness the power of AI to generate modular and evolvable enterprise applications. This process automates the handling of complex data, ensuring that integrity, validation, and confidentiality are built into the core of the application.
Generative Development Infrastructure: GenDev provides a framework where developers can interact with applications and databases using natural language, simplifying the process of building, querying, and managing enterprise applications. This generative approach streamlines app development, making it faster and more intuitive.
Autonomous Database Integration: Oracle Database 23ai is fully integrated with Autonomous Database, featuring enhancements like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), AI Vector Search, and built-in support for multiple large language models (LLMs) like Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude. This integration helps avoid issues like AI hallucinations and allows developers to retrieve precise, enterprise-grade data.
GPU and AI Model Support: By supporting NVIDIA GPUs, the Autonomous Database accelerates resource-intensive operations, especially those related to AI and deep learning models, making it easier for developers to implement advanced AI features without managing complex infrastructure.
Low-Code and No-Code Tools: Oracle also introduced a suite of tools like Data Studio AI and Graph Studio to enable non-developers to interact with data and build applications through visual interfaces. This further lowers the barrier to entry for businesses to leverage AI in their operations.

OCW 2024 Low-code APEX

T.K. Anand’s Keynote on Oracle Data Intelligence

T.K. Anand, Executive Vice President of Oracle Analytics, delivered a keynote focused on how Oracle is transforming data management and analytics with AI-powered solutions. One of the key announcements was the introduction of the Oracle Intelligent Data Lake, designed to simplify data management and eliminate data silos.

OCW2024 Oracle Intelligent Data Lake

This new solution integrates structured and unstructured data sources, allowing organizations to gain a more complete business view. The Data Lake also leverages Apache Spark and Apache Flink for real-time data processing and includes AI-driven features that streamline workflows.

Note: GA is expected next year in 2025

Anand emphasized how Oracle’s Data Intelligence Platform combines advanced analytics, data orchestration, and governance to deliver AI-powered insights at scale. This platform allows businesses to reduce administrative workloads, improve operational efficiency, and make data-driven decisions faster.

A critical feature introduced was the Oracle Analytics Cloud AI Assistant, which uses large language models to offer natural language-driven analytics, helping users to interact more intuitively with their data.

The top image illustrates the standard approach to building, which requires both knowledge of the product and data sets. In contrast, the bottom image shows the AI-assisted method for modifying the dashboard.

Additionally, Oracle’s Autonomous Database innovations were highlighted, such as RAG support (retrieval-augmented generation) and integration with GPU processing, enhancing performance for AI-driven tasks.

Oracle CloudWorld Day 2

On September 11, three key executives – Steve Miranda, Clay Magouyrk, and Mike Sicilia – took the stage to discuss Oracle’s latest innovations, strategies, and vision for the future. Each session highlighted groundbreaking advancements in cloud technology, AI, and industry-specific solutions, with a strong focus on helping businesses leverage these technologies to improve operations and drive innovation.

Steve Miranda’s Keynote on Oracle Fusion Applications

Steve Miranda, Executive Vice President of Applications Development, delivered a keynote centered on how Oracle is embedding artificial intelligence into its Fusion Applications Suite. He emphasized how AI is transforming every facet of business operations—from HR and finance to supply chain and customer experience—making it easier for companies to achieve better outcomes without requiring specialized expertise.

A standout feature of Miranda’s presentation was Oracle’s approach to making AI accessible. Unlike other cloud competitors that are introducing price hikes for AI-powered features, Oracle is incorporating AI capabilities into its existing Fusion Cloud Applications at no additional cost. Miranda humorously dismissed the idea of separate pricing for AI features, likening it to the absurdity of charging extra for fundamental software upgrades. His message was clear: AI is a natural progression in software evolution and should be available to all users without extra costs.

OCW 2024 Steve Miranda Trusted AI Partner

Miranda showcased how AI-driven automation and analytics are now seamlessly integrated across Oracle Fusion Applications. He gave concrete examples of how this benefits users – such as automated invoice processing in finance, predictive maintenance in supply chains, and enhanced employee engagement in HR. Through these real-world examples, Miranda highlighted how businesses can reduce manual workloads, make more informed decisions, and enhance efficiency by tapping into Oracle’s AI innovations.

Clay Magouyrk’s Keynote on AI, Speed, Flexibility, and Security

Clay Magouyrk, Executive Vice President of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), used his keynote to unveil Oracle’s advancements in cloud technology, focusing on the flexibility, speed, and security of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. His talk positioned OCI as the backbone of a new era of cloud computing. The big announcement he introduced was Dedicated Region25 – now starting as small as 3 racks!

OCW 2024 Clay Dedicated Region25 3 Racks

A new OCI Dedicated Region configuration – Dedicated Region25 – will be available in a smaller, scalable size starting at only three racks and rapidly deployable within weeks. Dedicated Region25 has a 75 percent smaller launch footprint and simplified datacenter requirements, supports OCI’s 150+ AI and cloud services and allows a wider range of customers to gain the agility, economics, and scale of the public cloud in their own datacenters. The new configuration will be available in the next calendar year.

Clay emphasized that Oracle’s cloud strategy is all about reducing complexity while delivering high performance and security. He introduced several new offerings aimed at simplifying the cloud journey for businesses. One of the central themes of his presentation was Oracle’s commitment to multi-cloud environments. Acknowledging that most enterprises operate in hybrid and multi-cloud landscapes, Magouyrk showcased how OCI’s interoperability with other cloud platforms like Google Cloud allows customers to deploy applications across different environments seamlessly.

Mike Sicilia’s Keynote on Solving Industries’ Biggest Challenges with Applied AI

Mike Sicilia, Oracle’s Executive Vice President of Industries, provided a detailed look at how Oracle is addressing the unique challenges of various industries through its vertical solutions. His session focused on Oracle’s deep industry expertise and how the company is using cloud technology to drive digital transformation in sectors such as healthcare, financial services, construction, and government.

OCW 2024 Vertical Solutions

Sicilia explained that Oracle’s industry-specific solutions are not just about generic cloud applications but are tailored to meet the regulatory and operational complexities of each industry.