A new report by Intellyx, titled "The New Blueprint for AI-Ready Data: Vector Search Meets Distributed SQL," explores the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI features into existing data infrastructures without adding separate vector databases. The report argues against the prevalent approach of using standalone vector databases, as this often results in increased complexity, data inconsistencies, and operational fragility. Instead, it highlights the innovative C-SPANN solution by Cockroach Labs, which integrates high-performance vector search capabilities directly into the distributed SQL database CockroachDB. This approach allows organizations to efficiently manage AI workloads alongside operational data, ensuring consistency, scalability, and real-time updates without the need for separate systems. The report emphasizes the practical benefits of this unified architecture, such as enabling complex queries and maintaining data freshness, and presents real-world applications in sectors like retail, insurance, and banking. Overall, the analysis suggests that incorporating vector indexing into distributed SQL databases can simplify data management and enhance AI capabilities, offering a compelling alternative to the fragmented data strategies currently in use.