# Science Award Winner Stripped For AI Use

> Nikon strips top science photography prize after AI detection.
- Title: Science Award Winner Stripped For AI Use · PCMAG | Shortify
- Summary: Nikon strips top science photography prize after AI detection. Dr. Ning Xu loses Nikon Small World in Motion award after admitting AI use in video…
- Keywords: nikon, small world in motion, dr ning xu, generative ai, primary ciliary dyskinesia, cilia, technology, Science, Award, Winner, Stripped, Use
- Source: PCMAG — https://pcmag.com/news/top-science-photography-award-winner-stripped-for-ai-use
- Author: Will McCurdy
- Published: 2026-10-11T14:41:32+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nikon, small world in motion, dr ning xu, ai, generative ai, primary ciliary dyskinesia, cilia, technology
## Nikon Small World Prize
Dr. Ning Xu from Tsinghua University wins Nikon's 16th annual Small World in Motion contest for microscopic video of cilia in a child with primary ciliary dyskinesia.
## AI Detection Concerns
Multiple scientists and past judges reported structural inaccuracies and AI watermarks like SynthID in Xu's video.
## Xu Admits AI Use
Dr. Xu admitted using AI to distinguish and visualize features in reconstructed grayscale images during post-processing.
## Nikon Updates Rules
Nikon plans to revisit rules and evaluation procedures for future competition entries after the incident.
## New Prize Winner
Nguyen Nam Nhat of Vietnam wins the top prize with a video of a tiny roundworm and single-celled organism.
## Past AI Controversies
Granta literary magazine admitted in May 2026 that true authorship of a Commonwealth prize-winning story might be unknown due to AI accusations.
## Key takeaway

Dr. Ning Xu loses Nikon Small World in Motion award after admitting AI use in video post-processing.