IBM just made the world's first sub-1nm chip -- what does it mean for PCs and phones?

IBM just made the world's first sub-1nm chip after introducing what it says is the first sub-1 nanometer chip technology, a milestone it frames as relevant for the next generation of PCs and phones. The prototype uses 0.7nm transistors—described as 7 angstroms—and packs nearly 100 billion transistors into an area the size of a fingernail. IBM says the density is nearly twice that of an early 2nm chip from 2021. The company attributes the advance to a new “nanostack” architecture that stacks and staggers transistors in 3D, allowing designers to combine materials for better performance and efficiency, while also boosting bandwidth often sought for AI workloads. IBM says production of first sub-1nm chips could begin within five years, with at least a decade of scaling expected. IBM forecasts up to 50% more performance and 70% better energy efficiency versus its 2nm chips.