Nikon strips scientist of top microscopy prize after researchers spot AI-generated cilia
Nikon photography contest winner loses title after scientists spot signs of AI
Dr. Ning Xu of Tsinghua University won Nikon's Small World in Motion contest with a video of beating cilia in a child's airways, but scientists flagged structures that popped in and out of existence and cilia appearing from nowhere. A PhD student found an AI watermark in the source image. Xu admitted using AI only for post-processing; Nikon's investigation found a rules violation and awarded the prize to Nguyen Nam Nhat of Vietnam instead.
Some of the structures "pop in and out of existence" and the cilia "appear from nowhere," which are classic indications that a video was AI-generated.