The world’s smallest computer makes a grain of rice look massive
As computing and AI processing gets moved to the edge of the network and into billions of IOT devices computers will have to get ever smaller.
Key takeaways
- Needless to say the development raised a few eyebrows at the university who felt they had to fire back and up the ante.
- The IBM device lost all its programming and data as soon as it turns off, unlike the Michigan Micromote, which retained its programming even when it wasn’t externally powered.
- The device was designed to be a precision temperature sensor that can report temperatures in clusters of cells with an error of about 0.1 degrees Celsius.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2018) 'The world’s smallest computer makes a grain of rice look massive', 311 Institute, 2 August. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/the-worlds-smallest-computer-makes-a-grain-of-rice-look-massive/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Researchers at the University of Michigan have created the world’s smallest computer, again, after their previous micro-computers, called Micromotes, that were just 2 by 2 by 4mm in size, that were powered by solar cell batteries, were bested by IBM who built an even smaller micro-computer called a Crypto Anchor in March that measured just an incredible 1 by 1mm in size, and was smaller than a grain of salt.
Needless to say the development raised a few eyebrows at the university who felt they had to fire back and up the ante. After all, it's unclear if the IBM computer even count as an actual micro-computer. The IBM device lost all its programming and data as soon as it turns off, unlike the Michigan Micromote, which retained its programming even when it wasn’t externally powered.
“It’s more of a matter of opinion whether they have the minimum functionality required,” said David Blaauw, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the university who helped engineer the new micro-computer that is now just a tenth of the size of IBM’s at a tiny 0.3 by 0.3 by 0.3mm in size, which makes even the grain of rice sitting by it in the photo look like some giant comedy prop. The device was designed to be a precision temperature sensor that can report temperatures in clusters of cells with an error of about 0.1 degrees Celsius.
“When we first made our new micromote system, we actually didn’t know exactly all the things it would be useful for. But once we published it, we started receiving dozens and dozens and dozens of inquiries,” Blaauw said. “It could, for instance, measure the temperature of tumours and conduct other cancer studies, monitor oil reservoirs, conduct audio or visual surveillance, or even help in ‘tiny snail studies’.”
Source: University of Michigan
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Why does this matter?
As computing and AI processing gets moved to the edge of the network and into billions of IOT devices computers will have to get ever smaller.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
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Sources and further reading
- University of Michigan news.umich.edu
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 2 August 2018. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2018). The world’s smallest computer makes a grain of rice look massive. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/the-worlds-smallest-computer-makes-a-grain-of-rice-look-massive/
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