Java's AI Leap: JDK 25, Spring AI 1.0, and the New Embabel Framework

Hi all,

Plenty has happened since my last one: JDK 25 keeps crystallizing, Spring innovates in Gen AI, and I finally squeezed in a conference trip.

Here’s the rundown:

On InfoQ

Here are the top stories that I wrote about the world of Java and AI development, fresh from InfoQ.

🚀 Embabel: A New Era for AI Agents in Java

Spring founder Rod Johnson has unveiled Embabel, a groundbreaking framework for developing advanced AI agents. Built on Spring AI, Embabel introduces GOAP (Goal-Oriented Action Planning) and strong typing to simplify the creation of sophisticated, agentic workflows directly within your Java applications. The goal? To make building AI agents as intuitive for Java developers as creating a web application with Spring MVC.

Many people and organizations think that you need to write Gen AI applications in Python. That means a new stack to put into production, potentially a new skill set and a lot of friction in getting at existing business logic and infrastructure. I believe that that is entirely wrong--and I'm very familiar with the Python ecosystem. Java teams are well-positioned to leverage AI in their applications, with minimal friction and the benefit of their existing understanding and toolset. -Rod Johnson

Read the full story: https://www.infoq.com/news/2025/06/introducing-embabel-ai-agent/

In creating Embabel, I'm focused on solving the most important JVM problem of today: how to bring business applications into the Gen AI era. - Rod Johnson

☕️ Java 25 Arrives with Stable Values API (JEP 502)

Java 25 is here, and with it, the Stable Values API. This new feature introduces "deferred immutability," allowing objects to become unchangeable after their initial use. This powerful capability enhances JVM constant folding, allowing for significant improvements in application startup times without compromising the benefits of lazy loading.

Learn more here: https://www.infoq.com/news/2025/06/java25-stable-values-api-startup/

🌱 Spring AI 1.0 Reaches General Availability

The much-anticipated Spring AI 1.0 is now generally available. This release provides a unified, stable abstraction layer for a wide range of AI functionalities, including chat, embeddings, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), image generation, and function calling. Developers can now seamlessly integrate with major AI providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, Bedrock, and Vertex AI, all from within the familiar Spring ecosystem.

Get the details: https://www.infoq.com/news/2025/05/spring-ai-1-0-streamlines-apps/

☕️ JDK 25 Hardens with Major New Features Java 25 is here, bringing significant updates that improve performance and developer experience:

• Stable Values API (JEP 502): This new feature introduces "deferred immutability" to enhance JVM constant folding and improve startup times without sacrificing lazy loading. Learn more.

• Instance Main Methods Finalized: Say goodbye to boilerplate. Instance main methods are now a permanent feature, making scripts and learning examples more concise. See what's changed.

• Structured Concurrency (JEP 505, Preview 5): The popular concurrency API continues its path to finalization, refining cancellation and observability. Explore the preview.

From my personal blog (Bazlur.ca)

🎤 Speaking at GeeCON 2025: A Memorable Kraków Experience A trip report from GeeCON 2025, detailing two packed sessions on LLMs in Java and myths of modern Java. The post features the vibrant hallway conversations and the beautiful, historic streets of Kraków, evoking the energy of the Java community.

Read the full experience: https://bazlur.ca/2025/05/25/speaking-at-geecon-2025-krakow-experience/

⚙️ Java’s Structured Concurrency: Finally Finding Its Footing. A deep dive into the evolution of Java's Structured Concurrency API. This article reflects on the journey through five previews and expresses hope that the latest update (JEP 505) will be the last one with breaking changes as the feature matures.

Dive into the analysis: https://bazlur.ca/2025/05/25/javas-structured-concurrency-finally-finding-its-footing/