Dive into SQL Server 2025 and uncover its groundbreaking features--guided by one of its key architects. The 2025 release brings SQL Server firmly into the AI age, and this book ensures that you're ready for the leap, walking you through built-in AI for application development, AI-enhanced data analytics with Microsoft Fabric integration, and much more.

At every step of the way, you'll gain exclusive insights from author Bob Ward, a Principal Architect for the Microsoft Azure Data team, who has worked on every version of SQL Server since OS/2 1.1. With more than 31 years at Microsoft, Ward brings unparalleled expertise and practical knowledge, leaving you and your database in excellent hands.

Ward covers the fundamentals of setup, upgrades, and configuration, and covers advanced features in security, performance, and high availability. He also highlights what makes this the most significant SQL Server release for developers in a decade: support for JSON, RegEx, REST APIs, and event streaming.

Most critically, Ward explores SQL Server 2025's advanced, secure, and scalable AI integration. After a practical introduction to AI fundamentals to help you integrate artificial intelligence with your data, you'll learn how to build AI-powered applications deeply integrated with the SQL engine--and elevate your analytics to the next level.

The AI age is here. Be sure your SQL Server databases are ready.

What You Will Learn

- - - of your choice, services, and frameworks to build new AI applications

- - - - Use new query processing capabilities to extend the performance of your application

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Who This Book Is For

The SQL Server community, including DBAs, architects, and developers eager to stay ahead with the latest advancements in SQL Server 2025, and those interested in the intersection of AI and data, particularly how artificial intelligence (AI) can be seamlessly integrated with SQL Server to unlock deeper insights and smarter solutions