Nikon disqualifies microscopy video winner over generative AI use

Nikon has disqualified the first-place winner of its Small World in Motion microscopy video competition due to the use of generative artificial intelligence. The original winner, Dr. Ning Xu of Tsinghua University, submitted a video depicting the movement of cilia in a child with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).

Following concerns raised by scientists on social media regarding biological inaccuracies—such as structures that appeared to defy known biology or lacked realistic movement—Nikon conducted a re-evaluation. The company determined the entry violated competition rules prohibiting generative AI. Dr. Xu maintained that AI was used only for “AI-assisted post-processing” to visualize features in reconstructed grayscale images rather than to generate the biological structures themselves.

As a result of the disqualification, Nguyen Nam Nhat from Vietnam has been named the new first-place winner for a video featuring a roundworm and a single-celled organism. Nikon stated that the decision was based solely on eligibility and was not a judgment on the entrant’s professional reputation or scientific intent. The company plans to review its rules and procedures for future competitions.