# Nikon disqualifies winner of scientific imaging competition

> Nikon removes Chinese scientist's AI video from contest after claims it violated rules.
- Title: Nikon disqualifies winner of scientific imaging competition
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: nikon, small world, dr ning xu, scientific imaging, nikon 2026, dr nguyen nam nhat, primary ciliary dyskinesia, disqualifies, winner, scientific, imaging, competition
- Source: Digital Camera World — https://digitalcameraworld.com/tech/artificial-intelligence/nikon-disqualifies-winner-of-its-prestigious-scientific-imaging-competition-mired-by-ai-controversy
- Published: 2026-10-12T12:54:05+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nikon, small world, dr ning xu, ai, scientific imaging, nikon 2026, dr nguyen nam nhat, primary ciliary dyskinesia
## 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.
## Key takeaway

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.