Researcher sat IBM have developed a the world's smallest computer - an 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.

Announced at IBM's biggest client event of the year: Think 2018 in Las Vegas, the computer packs several hundred thousand transistors into a footprint barely visible to the human eye. Of course, this tiny device has the computing power of the x86 chip from 1990. But it will cost less than ten cents to manufacture, according to the company.

The device works with blockchain, and 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.

"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," says IBM head of research Arvind Krishna.

It's not clear yet when this thing will be released -IBM researchers are currently testing its first prototype.