Nikon photography contest winner loses title after scientists spot signs of AI

The winner of Nikon's 2022 Small World Photomicrography Competition has been stripped of their title after experts discovered evidence of AI-generated content in their winning entry. The winning image, 'Papaya Cells', was created by Dr. Lani Marie Pohl-Daub, a researcher at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. An investigation found that the image contained 'signs of AI manipulation', leading to the revocation of the award. The image was created using a combination of Nikon's NIS-Elements software and a custom-built AI tool. The competition, held annually by Nikon, aims to showcase the best in photomicrography, which involves capturing images of microscopic subjects using a microscope.