Nikon disqualified original first-place winner Ning Xu from its Small World in Motion competition on October 9, 2026 after determining his video entry showing cilia in a child's airway violated rules prohibiting generative artificial intelligence

From the articleBig Controversy Upends a Contest About Microscopic VideosAlso in AI disqualification yields new Nikon Small World in Motion winner, Prize-winning image which sparked backlash was AI-generated, Nikon rules, Photography competition winner disqualified over AI-generated video, Nikon microscopic video competition winner disqualified for using generative AI