IBM creates 1mm x 1mm computer

IBM announced the creation of a computer that is smaller than a grain of salt. It packs several hundred thousand transistors and has a manufacturing cost of under ten cents. Interestingly, power is generated via a solar cell, so no battery is required.

The world’s smallest computer is an IBM-designed edge device architecture and computing platform that is smaller than a grain of salt will cost less than ten cents to manufacture and can monitor, analyze, communicate, and even act on data. It packs several hundred thousand transistors into a footprint barely visible to the human eye and can help verify that a product has been handled properly throughout its long journey.

The device reportedly has the same computing power as an x86 processor from 1990, IBM thinks they can commercialize this thing within the next five years. The computer uses a LED and a light sensor to communicate with other devices. It's not intended to be used as a typical computer, but for blockchain and physical anti-counterfeit or supply chain safety measures.