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Ning Xu of Tsinghua University was originally announced as the winner of Nikon’s Small World in Motion competition for a video showing cilia beating in a child’s airways. However, an investigation concluded that Xu’s entry violated rules regarding generative AI usage. Researchers noted structural abnormalities and features appearing or disappearing unnaturally, alongside potential AI watermarks in the source files. While Xu stated he used AI to visualize grayscale images, he denied generating the motion itself. Nikon confirmed the disqualification based solely on eligibility under competition rules, clarifying this does not judge the entrant’s professional reputation or scientific intent.

The new winner is Nguyen Nam Nhat of Vietnam, who submitted a video featuring a roundworm and a single-celled organism. The Nikon Small World in Motion competition, launched in 2011 as a spinoff of a program started in 1974, aims to showcase microscopic life through photovideography. This event highlights technological advances allowing users to create time-lapse movies via light microscopes.

Following Xu’s removal from the top spot, other participants advanced in the rankings. Benedikt Pleyer from Germany took second place with a video of jellyfish larvae. Andrew Moore from the US placed third with footage of synchronized cell division. Patrick Hickey from Scotland ranked fourth for his work on mitochondria and chloroplasts, while Igor Adameyko finished fifth with a video of a sea slug. Nikon stated this decision will prompt a review of rules and evaluation procedures for future entries to address evolving challenges in imaging and artificial intelligence.