AI disqualification yields new Nikon Small World in Motion winner
Nikon has disqualified the winning entry of its Small World in Motion video competition following allegations that the creator used artificial intelligence.
Nikon has disqualified the winning entry of its Small World in Motion video competition following allegations that the creator used artificial intelligence. Ning Xu of Tsinghua University in China originally won last month for a video showing tiny cilia beating in a child's airways. Researchers raised concerns after noticing structural abnormalities and cell features that appeared and disappeared unrealistically.
Some observers also spotted apparent AI watermarks embedded in the source files. Nikon launched an investigation and concluded that Xu's entry violated competition rules. Xu stated that he used technology only to visualize grayscale images, denying it generated the movie or cell motion. Nguyen Nam Nhat of Vietnam now takes first place with a video featuring a tiny roundworm and a single-celled organism.
Other runners-up also shifted up one rank, including Benedikt Pleyer in second place and Andrew Moore in third. The annual competition showcases microscopic beauty and video advances. The dispute highlights growing scrutiny over digital alterations in scientific imaging competitions.
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Original publication: 10 October 2026 00:14
