The 2026 winner of Nikon’s Small World in Motion competition, which showcases microscopic photography and videography, is under scrutiny amid allegations of artificial intelligence (AI) use beyond allowed limits. The prize was awarded to Dr. Ning Xu of Tsinghua University in China for a video depicting cilia, tiny hair-like structures, moving within the airways of a child with primary ciliary dyskinesia, a rare genetic condition.
Dr. Xu has denied that AI was used to create the footage itself, emphasizing that the motion and experimental video capturing the cilia were produced without AI generation. He acknowledged, however, that AI tools were employed later in the process to assist with colorization and to enhance the visualization of features in the original greyscale images. The competition’s rules prohibit AI-generated videos but allow some degree of digital image processing, including artificial coloring to highlight details.
Following the announcement of the winner, scientists and other observers raised questions about the authenticity of the footage. Edward Phelps, an associate professor at the University of Florida with expertise in biomaterials, noted that some of the cilia in the video appeared to "pop in and out of existence," suggesting unnatural elements or editing. Additionally, Ian Donovan, a doctoral student at UT Southwestern Medical Center, pointed out that one version of the video contained a visible Google SynthID logo, a digital watermark indicating AI-generated or AI-processed content.
Nikon has stated that Dr. Xu has been cooperating with their ongoing review of the entry. The organization said, at present, they have not identified any violation of competition rules but are continuing to investigate the concerns. The company reiterated that an update would be provided after a thorough evaluation of the materials involved.
The controversy highlights the evolving role of AI in scientific imaging and the challenge for competitions to set clear guidelines balancing technological advances with authenticity. While AI-assisted enhancements are increasingly common in microscopy to clarify structures invisible to the naked eye, establishing where enhancement ends and fabrication begins remains a difficult boundary to define. Nikon’s Small World competition, long regarded as a premier platform for revealing microscopic life’s beauty and complexity, is now testing its policies amid the growing integration of AI tools in image processing.