From Digital Camera World · · 1m 20s
Nikon disqualifies winner of scientific imaging competition
Nikon removes Chinese scientist's AI video from contest after claims it violated rules.
In brief
Nikon removes Chinese scientist's AI video from contest after claims it violated rules. Nikon disqualified Dr. Ning Xu's winning video from its 2026 Small World competition due to alleged AI rule violations, naming Nguyen Nam Nhat as new winner. Originally reported by Digital Camera World.
Nikon disqualifies winner
Nikon has disqualified the winner of its 2026 Small World in Motion Video Competition.
Dr. Ning Xu's video disqualified
Dr. Ning Xu of China's Tsinghua University created the winning video that did not comply with competition rules regarding generative AI.
New winner named
Nikon named Nguyen Nam Nhat of Vietnam the new winner for a video depicting a tiny roundworm and a single-celled Dileptus exploring their microscopic world.
Dr. Xu's video captured PCD cells
Dr. Xu's microscopic video captured abnormal beating of a cellular structure in a patient with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).
Scientists questioned video authenticity
Scientists claimed Dr. Xu's video appeared computer-generated after it was posted on a now-deleted LinkedIn page.
Dr. Hirst identified fabrication
Dr. Robert Hirst, principal scientist at the University of Leicester, knew immediately the video was fabricated and said the cells and cilia looked nothing like PCD patients.
Dr. Xu defended AI use
Dr. Xu stated AI was used in post-processing to distinguish features below cilia, not to anatomically reconstruct cells or organelles.
What to remember
Nikon disqualified Dr. Ning Xu's winning video from its 2026 Small World competition due to alleged AI rule violations, naming Nguyen Nam Nhat as new winner.
