Google Cloud launches AlloyDB Express with two-second database creation and scale-to-zero

[Google Cloud] Google Cloud announced the preview of AlloyDB Express, a new AlloyDB for PostgreSQL offering designed for developers and AI coding agents. According to Google Cloud, the service can create a ready-to-use PostgreSQL database in under two seconds via gcloud CLI, REST API, MCP, Terraform or the Console, and automatically pauses after 15 minutes of inactivity so no compute costs are incurred while idle, waking in seconds when a new query arrives. It includes built-in enterprise AI capabilities such as vector, text and hybrid search, along with security controls including IAM, VPC Service Controls and native PostgreSQL roles. Google Cloud said users can start with a free monthly allowance and pay only for what they use, and can upgrade an existing database to AlloyDB in one click while keeping data, schemas, users and connection strings intact, gaining enterprise high availability, read replicas and disaster recovery.