Worlds Smallest Computer

IBM claim they will unveil what it claims is the world's smallest computer. They're not kidding: It's literally smaller than a grain of salt. 


But don't let the size fool you: This sucker has the computing power of the x86 chip from 1990. The computer will cost less than ten cents to manufacture, and will also pack "several hundred thousand transistors," according to the company. These will allow it to "monitor, analyze, communicate, and even act on data."

Specifically, this computer will be a data source for blockchain applications. It's intended to help track the shipment of goods and detect theft, fraud, and non-compliance. It can also do basic AI tasks, such as sorting the data it's given.

According to IBM, this is only the beginning. "Within the next five years, cryptographic anchors — such as ink dots or tiny computers smaller than a grain of salt — will be embedded in everyday objects and devices."