Nikon Microscopy Video Contest Winner Disqualified for Using Generative AI, Runner-Up Elevated
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The original first-place entry in the Nikon Small World in Motion microscopy video competition came from Dr. Ning Xu (later reports say he is from Tsinghua University), and the video claimed to show cilia movement in the airways of children with PCD (primary ciliary dyskinesia). After the video sparked online questions about its authenticity, Dr. Xu admitted on LinkedIn to using AI-assisted post-processing to distinguish and visualize reconstructed features from grayscale images. On October 10, 2026, The Verge reported that Nikon disqualified the video from first place for "violating competition rules on generative AI." The same day, a follow-up Ars Technica report said Nikon, after an investigation, determined that Ning Xu's use of AI in the winning video violated the competition rules and revoked his title; the championship went to Vietnam's Nguyen Nam Nhat, whose video of a tiny roundworm and a single-celled organism was elevated to first place.
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- Ars Technica · AIAI disqualification yields new Nikon Small World in Motion winner
Nikon's investigation found that Ning Xu of Tsinghua University used AI in the winning Small World in Motion video, violating contest rules; he was disqualified, and Nguyen Nam Nhat of Vietnam was named the new champion for a video of a tiny roundworm and single-celled organisms.
- The Verge · AINikon microscopic video competition winner disqualified for using generative AI
Nikon disqualified the original first-place video in its Small World in Motion competition for not complying with the contest rules on generative AI. The video, by Dr. Ning Xu, claimed to show cilia moving in the airway of a child with PCD; after questions were raised online about its authenticity, Dr. Xu acknowledged on LinkedIn using AI-assisted post-processing to distinguish and visualize reconstructed features in grayscale images.
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