Nikon disqualifies Small World in Motion winner over generative AI use
The original first-place video used AI in post-processing, and Nikon says it will revisit its rules.
Curious#08
1974
Year the parent Small World contest began
Image: The Verge
1974Year the parent Small World contest began
The short version
- Nikon disqualified the video that originally won first place in its Small World in Motion contest.
- The video, by Dr. Ning Xu of Tsinghua University, claimed to show cilia moving in the airway of a child with the respiratory condition PCD.
- Xu admitted using AI-assisted post-processing to distinguish and visualize features in the images, but denied that AI was used to generate the movie, the cilia, or their motion.
- Nguyen Nam Nhat of Vietnam now holds first place, and the other winners each moved up one place.
Why it matters
The case shows how generative AI can blur the line between visualization and evidence in scientific imaging. Competitions will need clearer rules and checks for AI-altered footage. Nikon says it will revisit its rules and evaluation procedures for future entries.
“did not comply with the competition rules regarding generative AI”