Nikon disqualified Dr. Ning Xu, the winner of the Small World in Motion competition, on the grounds that his work violated the competition rules regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence. Following the decision, the competition rankings were updated, and Nguyen Nam Nhat moved into first place.
Following criticism from the scientific community, Nikon had put Xu’s work under review again. In a statement, a Nikon spokesperson reported that, after thoroughly re-evaluating the video and supporting materials and consulting with members of the judging panel, Nikon had concluded that the winning video did not comply with the competition rules regarding the use of generative AI. The company also emphasized that the decision concerned only the submitted video’s compliance with the rules and should not be interpreted as an assessment of the entrant’s professional reputation, scientific contributions, or intentions.
Nguyen Nam Nhat Becomes the New Winner
Following Dr. Xu’s disqualification, Nguyen Nam Nhat, who entered the competition with a video showing a tiny roundworm and a single-celled organism called Dileptus, moved into first place. Nikon also announced on the competition’s official website that the award rankings had been updated. The Nikon Small World and Small World in Motion competitions, which highlight scientific imaging, aim to bring the complexity, beauty, and scientific significance of the microscopic world to a wider audience. The competitions provide researchers with an opportunity to present their laboratory work through visually compelling content.
How Did the Artificial Intelligence Controversy Begin?
Dr. Ning Xu, a researcher in optical engineering at the National University of Singapore, had admitted to using artificial intelligence during the post-processing stage of his award-winning video but denied the allegation that he had violated the competition rules. The competition rules state: “AI-generated videos are not permitted.”
Xu’s video shows the movement of cilia, microscopic hair-like structures found in certain parts of the lungs that help facilitate movement. The researcher had stated that the tissue shown in the footage was taken from a child with primary ciliary dyskinesia, a rare genetic disorder. This disease can cause chronic lung, sinus, and ear infections.
Edward Phelps, an associate professor at the University of Florida, had argued in an assessment posted on LinkedIn that the video contained serious inconsistencies. Phelps stated that some purple structures suddenly appeared and disappeared in the footage, while green cilia appeared later in the video and did not match their known dimensions. Some scientists had argued that sharing the original, unprocessed grayscale video recordings (RAW) could help answer the questions surrounding the footage.
Nikon to Reassess Competition Rules
Nikon announced that it would reconsider the rules and evaluation procedures for future submissions, noting that rapid advances in artificial intelligence and imaging technologies were creating new challenges for competitions. The company made the following statement:
“Advances in imaging and artificial intelligence continue to evolve rapidly, creating new challenges for organizations across many fields. This event has shown the need for Nikon Small World and Nikon Small World in Motion to revisit rules and evaluation procedures for future competition entries.”
Nikon also stated that its competitions reward high-quality imaging work from both scientific and artistic perspectives, emphasizing that preserving the integrity of every photograph and video selected for its winning galleries remains a priority. The company stated that it would remain committed to maintaining the high standards that form the foundation of the competition.
