Nikon don disqualify di winner of one prestigious scientific photography competition afta oda scientists raise concern say di entry no real. Di company tok say di use of generative AI to compose di video break di rules of im Small World In Motion contest. Dat contest na one wey dey accept photos and video wey dem take wit powerful microscopes.
Nikon tok say di video no comply wit di competition rules regarding generative AI. Di firm still add say di decision no be judgement on di entrant professional reputation or scientific contributions. Nikon tok say e go now look at di rules and procedures of di annual contest. Di contest don run for 15 years and na specifically for microscopic images.
Nikon tok say e reach di decision afta e thoroughly re-evaluate di video and supporting materials and consult wit members of im judging panel. Di winning entry come from Dr Ning Xu, from Tsinghua University in China. E submit short video wey show tiny, hair-like structures called cilia dey move inside di airway of a child wit di respiratory condition PCD.
BBC don approach Dr Ning Xu for comment. Some scientists, including former competition judges, complain to Nikon on im LinkedIn page say di video no appear to be real. Xu bin acknowledge say e use AI, but e tok say e believe say e act within di rules, and e cooperate wit Nikon investigation.
University of Leicester scientist Dr Robert Hirst, wey be among di first experts to voice concern, tok say e no surprise am, and e know immediately say di video na fabricated. Hirst tok say e don dey diagnose PCD for 20 years by examining dia cilia waveform, length, cell size and shape. Hirst, wey be lead scientist for di NHS centre for PCD diagnosis at di university, tok say di cells and cilia look nothing like those from PCD patients.
Hirst tok say di controversy don affect plenty patients, scientists, doctors and PCD support networks around di world.
