Science & Tech · AI · 5 hrs ago
Nikon removes AI-rule-breaking video from microscopy contest’s top spot
Nikon removed a video from first place in its 2026 Small World in Motion microscopy contest after finding it breached rules on generative AI.
The video showed airway cilia from a child with a lung disorder, Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, which affects how the body clears mucus and particles from the airways.
Nikon has not said what part of the footage was affected or named the entrant.
The company reviewed the video and its supporting materials, then changed the rankings; Nikon said the decision concerned eligibility, not the entrant’s reputation, scientific work or intent.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Nam Nhat now holds first place with a video of a tiny roundworm and a single-celled organism.
The contest rules for the next cycle ban AI-generated videos and allow Nikon to request original footage for verification.
Entries close on April 30, 2027, as concerns grow about how scientific images can be checked for authenticity.
Nikon removed a microscopy video from first place in its 2026 Small World in Motion competition after finding it breached rules on generative AI.
The video showed beating airway cilia from a child with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia.
Nikon said it reviewed the video and supporting materials and consulted members of the judging panel.
The company did not say what the breach involved or which part of the footage was affected.
Nguyen Nam Nhat of Vietnam, originally in second place, now holds first.
- Who
- Nikon and the unnamed entrant whose video was removed from first place.
- What
- Nikon changed the 2026 Small World in Motion rankings after finding the entry breached rules on generative AI.
- When
- Nikon announced the decision on October 9, 2026.
- Where
- The Nikon Small World in Motion competition; the entrant’s location is not stated.
- Why
- Nikon said the video did not comply with the competition’s generative AI rules. The specific breach was not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Nikon’s release listed the entry’s microscopy technique as diffractive super-resolution microscopy at 100X.
Nikon announced that the winning video did not comply with the competition rules regarding generative AI.
Nikon adjusted the rankings, and Nguyen Nam Nhat moved from second place to first.
- Competition
- 2026 Small World in Motion
- Disqualified entry
- Abnormal beating of airway cilia from a child with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD)
- Microscopy technique
- Diffractive super-resolution microscopy at 100X
- Decision announced
- October 9
- New first-place winner
- Nguyen Nam Nhat of Chu Se, Vietnam
What people are saying
Nikon has adjusted the competition rankings to reflect this decision.
AI generated videos are not permitted and Sponsor holds the right to request the original video for verification