this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2025
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Futurology

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US researchers have developed the world's smallest fully programmable robots, on a scale of 0.2-0.5 millimeters, the same size as microorganisms that cause diseases like dysentery and schistosomiasis. (futurology.today)
submitted 14 hours ago by Lugh@futurology.today to c/futurology@futurology.today
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In most people's sci-fi nightmares about robots trying to wipe out humanity, the robots tend to be big. But wouldn't they be more deadly if they were tiny? 0.2-0.5 millimeters is bigger than bacteria or viruses, but it's the size range of many single-cell protozoans.

That possibility is bad enough, but we'd better hope no one figures out how to make these things self-replicating. Think that sounds far-fetched? Evolution figured it out with single-cell organisms 2 billion years ago, and they haven't faltered since.

World’s smallest programmable robots perform tasks: Microscale swimming bots developed by U-M and Penn take in sensory information, process it, and carry out tasks, opening new possibilities in manufacturing and medicine.

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[–] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 1 points 7 minutes ago

Not a good sell...

"We built tiny robots! They're the same size as these diseases!"

[–] uss_entrepreneur@startrek.website 1 points 3 hours ago

Ah cool the torment nexus from the book ”don’t invent the torment nexus”

[–] 01189998819991197253@infosec.pub 1 points 4 hours ago

your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.

-Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park (1993)

[–] KRAW@linux.community 5 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Think that sounds far-fetched? Evolution figured it out with single-cell organisms 2 billion years ago, and they haven't faltered since.

The "brain" that is in these robots is incredibly simple and does not have the capability to learn. While it feels like tech is breaking boundaries every day, having any serious amount of computational power that simulates learning at this small of a scale is incredibly far off. The fear mongering is not necessary.

[–] Lugh@futurology.today 2 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

I wasn't thinking about the little robots figuring it out. I was thinking of humans designing it, and releasing it (perhaps accidentally).

[–] PattyMcB@lemmy.world 2 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

And look at the havoc that relatively simple but communal organisms can wreak (ants),

Then there are bacteria, viruses, and other single-celled organisms.

All one would need to do is replicate itself and produce a toxin.

[–] KRAW@linux.community 1 points 9 hours ago

But then that's not evolution?