Nikon fights backlash to microscope video contest winner after AI claims

Date:
Thu, 01 Oct 2026 14:04:35 +0000

Description:
Nikon is reviewing a competition-winning video that some people suspect of being made with AI.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Critics claim a competition-winning video was made using AI They cite unusual movements in
the cells shown in the footage Contest organizer Nikon says it is investigating Last month, a video depicting airway cells in motion in a
childs body wowed the world and took home first prize in Nikons annual Small World in Motion competition. Yet the footage might not have been all that it seemed, with Nikon now reportedly investigating whether AI played an outsized role.

The image in question showed a childs airway cilia, which are tiny hair-like structures that protrude from cells. The video was captured at 100x magnification and was shot by Dr. Ning Xu of Tsinghua University in China,
who said that When people watch cilia beating, they immediately understand that something beautiful and important is happening inside us. As charming as that sounds, the video raised questions once it became apparent that it had taken home Nikons prize. Some scientists have questioned whether the motion seen in the video accurately reflects cilia movements, raising the idea that AI might have been used at some point. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch
full video here:

And Nikon has since clarified its position. Commenting under its own post on LinkedIn , Nikon said that it was carefully re-reviewing the information provided during the initial vetting, along with additional supporting materials from the entrant.

It added that Dr. Ning Xu is respectfully complying and has provided detailed technical documentation outlining the microscopy equipment, imaging methods, and processing techniques used to create the source video. We plan to update the Nikon Small World community next week. You may like Winning video from Nikon microscope competition shows airway cells dancing AI is everywhere here's how to spot AI-generated images, videos and scams in 2026 TikTok says AI-generated spam crowds out original creators Claims of AI watermarks Microscopic wonders captured in Nikon Small World competition | ABC NEWS - YouTube Watch On Dr. Xu has denied breaking the competitions rules, saying on LinkedIn (via BBC News ) that AI was not used to generate the experimental movie, the cilia, or their motion. However, they have conceded to using AI to to distinguish and visualize features in the reconstructed grayscale images.

Some critics have argued that the entrys use of AI goes far beyond that, with claims being put forward that the cilias shapes do not fit with known behaviors and that the cilia appear to be too large. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Edward Phelps, Associate Professor at the University of Florida, said on LinkedIn that There any many serious problems with this video, for instance, with certain elements popping in and out of existence and migrating between cells.

Whats more, Ian Donovan a PhD student at UT Southwestern Medical Center, claimed to have uncovered an embedded SynthID watermark identifying synthetic/AI-generated content.

Well have to wait to see what conclusion Nikons investigation reaches, but it should perhaps not be surprising that, in the age of AI, remarkable images come under much more suspicion than they might have done in the past. AI or not, itll be fascinating to see what Nikons probe uncovers. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best laptops for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/cameras/photography/nikon-fights-backlash-to-contest -winner-amid-ai-allegations-microscopists-spot-serious-problems-with-airway-ci lia-shot-at-100x


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