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What's New & Release Updates

Last updated: 2026-04-27 Tags: release notes, what's new, preview features, monthly updates, version history

📖 Full Oracle Documentation: What's New in OAC · Preview Features

Summary

Oracle Analytics Cloud follows a monthly release cadence. New features ship continuously. This page tracks the structure of OAC's release model, where to find official what's-new info, the preview-features program, and how to opt in or defer updates.

Where Oracle Publishes Release Info

Resource URL
What's New (current) docs.oracle.com/.../whats-new
Preview Features docs.oracle.com/.../preview-features
Release Update Schedule OCI Console → Analytics Cloud → instance → Update history
Oracle Analytics Blog blogs.oracle.com/analytics
YouTube "What's New" series youtube.com/c/OracleAnalytics

Release Cadence

  • Monthly updates to OAC (typically first or second week of each month)
  • Updates are applied automatically by Oracle
  • Customers can defer one release cycle (one month delay)
  • Major paradigm shifts (e.g., new Semantic Modeler) are introduced as Preview Features first

Preview Features Program

Preview Features are new capabilities Oracle releases for customer testing before general availability.

How to Enable Preview Features

  1. Console → System Settings → Preview Features
  2. Toggle individual features on/off
  3. No restart required for most features

Typical Lifecycle

Preview Feature → 2-3 months in preview → General Availability (default ON) → Existing default behavior retired

⚠️ Warning: Preview Features may have bugs or change behavior between releases. Don't rely on them for production reports until they reach GA.

Common Preview Features Over Time

  • AI Assistant (generative AI in workbooks) — went GA in 2024
  • Semantic Modeler (browser-based) — GA in 2022
  • New Home Page — GA in 2023
  • Dataset Recommendations — GA in 2023
  • Auto Insights — GA in 2024
  • Natural Language Query (Ask) — GA in 2024

Major Feature Themes by Year

2026 (Current)

  • AI Assistant deep integrations with OCI Generative AI
  • Improved AutoML in Data Flows
  • Expanded Semantic Modeler parity with classic RPD
  • Enhanced embedding APIs

2025

  • Conversational Analytics (chat-based Q&A)
  • Improved Map visualizations
  • Fusion Analytics (FAW) integration enhancements
  • New REST API endpoints for catalog operations

2024

  • AI Assistant (GenAI integration) GA
  • Auto Insights GA
  • Improved Semantic Modeler (more RPD features supported)
  • New Workbook home page

2023

  • Semantic Modeler (browser) — major upgrade
  • New Workbook UI
  • Maps performance improvements
  • Predictive (AutoML) in Data Flows

2022

  • Semantic Modeler (browser) introduced as preview
  • AI Assistant introduced as preview
  • New Catalog UI

Deferring Updates

If you need to delay an update to test in DEV first:

  1. OCI Console → Analytics Cloud → instance → Update Settings
  2. Set update delay to "1 month"
  3. Apply

💡 Tip: Deferring updates is useful for production environments. Keep DEV on the latest, defer TEST and PROD by one month each — gives you time to test before production.

How to Track Changes

Per-Release Checklist

  • Read the What's New page before each release
  • Review Preview Features list
  • Check OCI Console → instance → "Update available" notification
  • Subscribe to Oracle Analytics blog feed
  • Join Oracle Analytics Community forums

Internal Change Log

Best practice: maintain your own change log per environment: 

2026-04 — Update applied to DEV — Tested AI Assistant new endpoint, no issues
2026-04 — Update applied to PROD — Verified all dashboards working
2026-03 — Deferred update on PROD due to weekend release

API Versioning

OAC REST APIs are versioned by date:

  • /api/20210901/ (current major version)
  • Older versions available for compatibility
  • Oracle deprecates old versions with 12+ month notice

Backward Compatibility

OAC maintains:

  • Catalog backward compatibility: Older analyses/dashboards continue to work after updates
  • RPD compatibility: RPDs uploaded years ago continue to work
  • Logical SQL: stable across releases
  • REST API: versioned, no breaking changes within a version