Paul Krill
Editor at Large

Microsoft unveils Copilot for Azure SQL Database

news
Mar 27, 20242 mins
DatabasesGenerative AIMicrosoft Azure

AI assistant available in private preview provides natural language to SQL conversion and self-help for database administration.

ChatGPT R, robotic hand typing on keyboard

Microsoft has announced a private preview of Copilot in Azure SQL Database, an AI assistant that improves productivity in the Azure portal by offering natural language to SQL conversion, along with self-help for database administration.

Microsoft announced the preview on March 21. To sign up for the preview, users can request access.

Copilot in Azure SQL Database enables the Azure portal query editor to translate natural language queries to SQL, making database interactions more intuitive, Microsoft said. Plus, Azure Copilot integration adds Azure SQL Database skills into Microsoft Copilot for Azure, providing self-guided assistance that enables users to manage databases and solve issues independently.

Copilot in Azure SQL Database integrates data and formulates responses using public documentation, database schema, dynamic management views, catalog views, and Azure supportability diagnostics, Microsoft said.

Within the Azure portal query editor, Copilot for Azure SQL Database uses table and view names, column names, primary key, and foreign key metadata to generate T-SQL code. Users then can review and execute the code suggestion. The Copilot also can answer questions with prompts like โ€œWhich real estate agent has listed more than two properties for sale?โ€ or โ€œShow me a pivot summary table that displays the number of properties sold in each year from 2020 to 2023,โ€ Microsoft said.

Paul Krill

Paul Krill is editor at large at InfoWorld. Paul has been covering computer technology as a news and feature reporter for more than 35 years, including 30 years at InfoWorld. He has specialized in coverage of software development tools and technologies since the 1990s, and he continues to lead InfoWorldโ€™s news coverage of software development platforms including Java and .NET and programming languages including JavaScript, TypeScript, PHP, Python, Ruby, Rust, and Go. Long trusted as a reporter who prioritizes accuracy, integrity, and the best interests of readers, Paul is sought out by technology companies and industry organizations who want to reach InfoWorldโ€™s audience of software developers and other information technology professionals. Paul has won a โ€œBest Technology News Coverageโ€ award from IDG.

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