Nikon Disqualifies AI Generated Video From Microscopy Contest

Nikon has disqualified Ning Xu's winning video from the Small World in Motion contest after determining the entry violated rules on generative AI use. The decision followed criticism from scientists who questioned the authenticity of footage showing airway cilia from a child with primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Nikon said the video was removed from the winning rankings after a review of the submission and supporting materials. The company replaced Xu's first-place position with Nguyen Nam Nhat's video showing a roundworm and a single-celled organism.

The contest organizer said the review involved its judging panel and focused only on eligibility under competition rules. Nikon also said the incident would lead it to reconsider future rules and evaluation procedures.

"After thoroughly re-evaluating the video and supporting materials and consulting with members of our judging panel, Nikon has determined that the winning video did not comply with the competition rules regarding generative AI," Nikon said.

Xu, an optical engineer associated with Tsinghua University, said he used AI during image processing but denied that it created the experimental movie or biological structures. His entry showed microscopic movement of cilia, structures involved in airway function.

"AI was not used to generate the experimental movie, the cilia, or their motion," Xu said.

He explained that AI was used to process reconstructed grayscale data from microscopy images. Xu said he believed the distinction between scientific claims and visualization was important when using artificial intelligence tools.

"It was applied afterwards to the reconstructed grayscale data to distinguish and color structures with similar morphology," Xu said.

Scientists raised concerns after the video appeared on Nikon's platforms. Robert Hirst, a University of Leicester scientist involved in primary ciliary dyskinesia diagnosis, said the structures did not match what he had observed in patients.

"I have been diagnosing PCD for 20 years by examining their cilia waveform, length, cell size and shape," Hirst said.

Hirst said he believed the footage was fabricated after examining the biological details shown in the video.

"The cells and cilia look nothing like those from PCD patients," Hirst said.

Nikon's Small World in Motion competition highlights microscopic videos captured through advanced imaging methods. The event has been held for 15 years and is designed to showcase scientific and artistic achievements in microscopy.