Home / Science / AI Image Fakes Win Top Science Photo Prize
AI Image Fakes Win Top Science Photo Prize
11 Oct
Summary
- Award-winning microscopic video used generative AI.
- Nikon contest winner disqualified for undisclosed AI use.
- Second-place entry now receives the top prize.
The winner of a major scientific photography competition has been disqualified after their entry was found to use generative artificial intelligence. Dr. Ning Xu, affiliated with Tsinghua University in China, had received the top honor in Nikon's 16th annual Small World in Motion contest, which celebrates microscopic videography.
Dr. Xu's submission showcased cilia, hair-like structures, moving within the airway of a child with primary ciliary dyskinesia. However, concerns were raised by scientists, including past judges, citing structural inaccuracies and visible AI watermarks like Google's SynthID.
In a now-deleted comment, Dr. Xu acknowledged using AI for post-processing to distinguish and visualize features in reconstructed grayscale images. They stated the original images were not AI-generated and believed they had not violated contest rules.
Following the disqualification, Nikon announced plans to revise its rules and evaluation procedures for future competitions. The grand prize has now been awarded to Nguyen Nam Nhat from Vietnam for their video depicting a roundworm and a single-celled organism.
This incident follows other cases where AI-generated content has received awards. For example, a literary magazine admitted in May 2026 that the authorship of a prize-winning story, accused of being AI-generated by many, remained uncertain.
