Truth Check/10 October 2026

“Nikon disqualified the original Small World in Motion 2026 winner for using generative AI”

The claim as it travelled: coverage, 9 Oct 2026.

Nikon's statement says the winning video did not comply with its rules on generative AI and that the rankings were adjusted; it does not describe what the AI did.

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Nikon disqualifies the winner of its Small World in Motion video prize under its rules on generative AI, moves a roundworm film from Vietnam to first place, and says it will revisit how entries are judged

Nikon's statement does not say what the AI did. The entrant wrote on LinkedIn that a neural network was used for "AI-assisted post-processing", The Verge reports.

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