{
  "id": 3546933,
  "title": "Can ‘quantum musical agents’ really make a melody better?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/can-quantum-musical-agents-really-make-a-melody-better",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-26T17:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Scientist",
    "slug": "new-scientist",
    "url": "https://www.newscientist.com/article/2585882-can-quantum-musical-agents-really-make-a-melody-better/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The history of popular music has been shaped by technological innovations, from the invention of the electric guitar to the creation of the wobble bass. A recent study titled \"Teleportation game: Quantum teleportation in multi-agent systems for interactive music\" explores the potential of quantum computers in music production. Researchers introduce \"quantum musical agents\" that communicate by teleporting quantum states to one another. These agents process musical phrases using Single Qubit Probability Amplitude Modulation (SQPAM) and Quantum Phase Estimation (QPE), potentially resulting in modified recordings.\n\nThe lead author of the study, Eduardo Miranda, is a composer and computer scientist who has previously created music using brain-computer interfaces, slime moulds, and quantum computers. His latest album, QUBISM, was entirely composed using quantum computers. However, the study does not include any audio samples, making it difficult to determine the exact output of the quantum musical agents.\n\nThe paper suggests that the agents are designed to support ambiguous and transformative interactions reminiscent of free jazz improvisation. The authors acknowledge that divergence and ambiguity are tolerated within their system. In other words, the quantum agents may occasionally play a wrong note.\n\nOne of the authors, Jonathan Stoppi, encountered a van advertising \"Kangen Water,\" which claims to be hydrogen-rich, alkaline, and antioxidant. However, the scientific understanding of water chemistry contradicts these claims. The van's URL led Stoppi to a website selling Kangen Water, which further emphasizes its health benefits and potential to make plants fresh and alive. Despite the author's earlier coverage of the supposed health benefits of alkaline and hexagonal water, the Kangen Water claims appear to be exaggerated.",
  "summary": "Feedback wonders if a bum note is being struck in a new paper exploring \"quantum teleportation in multi-agent systems for interactive music”",
  "key_points": [
    "Quantum musical agents use quantum teleportation to communicate and create music.",
    "Researchers acknowledge agents may occasionally play wrong notes due to ambiguity."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}