Nikon Small World 2026: Winning microscope image under AI review
Dr. Ning Xu's winning microscopy video from Tsinghua University faces a re-evaluation following scientist backlash over AI usage in Nikon's contest.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The winning entry of the Nikon Small World In Motion 2026 contest is being re-evaluated
- Dr. Ning Xu admitted using AI for image processing but denied generating the video
- Scientists and former judges raised concerns over unnatural cell shapes and an AI watermark
- Nikon stated it is investigating the matter and will provide an update soon
The annual Nikon Small World In Motion scientific photography competition, which has run for the past 15 years, is facing a major controversy after its winning video entry drew criticism from fellow scientists over the alleged use of artificial intelligence, prompting a formal re-evaluation of the results.
The contested entry is a short video submitted by Dr. Ning Xu, a researcher at Tsinghua University in China, which claimed to capture the movement of hair-like structures known as cilia inside the airways of a child with a rare disease. The video features artificially bright coloring, a technique commonly used in microscopy and permitted under the contest guidelines.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
However, following the announcement, other scientists challenged the footage, claiming it displayed shapes and movements inconsistent with normal cell structures, along with cilia that appeared overly large. Ian Donovan, a PhD student at UT Southwestern Medical Centre, pointed out that the source image appeared to contain a distinctive watermark indicating it was generated by AI. Additionally, two former competition judges voiced similar concerns.
Dr. Ning Xu did not respond to BBC's request for comment but addressed the backlash in a LinkedIn post, denying that he violated competition rules. He acknowledged utilizing AI to distinguish and visualize features within reconstructed grayscale images, but maintained that the technology was not used to create the experiment itself.
"AI was not used to generate the experimental movie, the cilia, or their motion."
Dr. Ning Xu
Dr. Patrick Hickey, who secured fifth place in the 2026 Small World contest, noted that the recognition from the award means more than the $3,000 (£2,250) prize itself, adding that it would be unfair to fellow participants if the winning video was improperly altered by AI.
This controversy highlights a growing challenge for scientific imaging competitions in the AI era, where distinguishing standard digital image enhancement from generative AI creation becomes increasingly difficult. Organizers are now under pressure to refine their technical verification protocols to safeguard the integrity of scientific awards.
Nikon stated that Dr. Ning Xu is cooperating respectfully with the ongoing investigation and has supplied additional technical documents. While the company is currently standing by its standard procedures, an update regarding the investigation is expected soon.
Source: BBC Science & Environment
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