Tiny image sparks controversy in Nikon’s Small World contest

In a surprising turn, the video that won Nikon’s annual Small World In Motion contest is being re‑examined after accusations that it was partially generated with artificial intelligence.

The competition challenges scientists to capture the tiniest biological details with high‑resolution microscopes, and the 2026 winner was a short clip of cilia – hair‑like cellular structures – inside a child’s airway.

While the researcher, Dr Ning Xu of Tsinghua University, maintains that no AI was used to create the moving images, several experts claim the footage contains impossible shapes and movements, and a watermark suggesting generative software was employed.

Other former judges and scientists continue to question the authenticity of the clip, urging Nikon to conduct a full forensic review while the contest organisers insist no rules were broken.

Nikon has said it is "respectfully complying" with the inquiry and will update participants once a conclusion is reached.