AI Disqualification Names New Nikon Small World in Motion Winner

Summary

Nikon has named Nguyen Nam Nhat of Vietnam the new winner of its Small World in Motion microscopy-video competition after disqualifying the previous winner, Ning Xu of Tsinghua University. Nikon said Xu’s entry did not comply with the contest’s rules on generative AI following an investigation into the video and its supporting materials. The investigation followed concerns from researchers that some cellular structures appeared or disappeared unnaturally, along with reports of possible AI watermarks in the source files. Xu said AI was used to distinguish and visualize features in reconstructed grayscale images, but denied using it to generate the experimental movie, the cilia, or their motion. Nikon said its decision concerned the video’s eligibility under the rules and was not a judgment of Xu’s professional reputation, scientific work, or intent. Nguyen’s winning video shows a tiny roundworm and a single-celled Dileptus. Other finalists moved up one position, including videos of jellyfish larvae, synchronized cell division, organelle dynamics in plant cells, and a sea slug. Nikon said the case highlights the need to revisit competition rules and evaluation procedures as imaging and AI develop, while reaffirming that the competitions are intended to celebrate scientific and artistic excellence in microscopy.