Defining Quantum Advantage: A Push for Platform-Agnostic, Empirically Verifiable Standards
As quantum hardware matures, the term "quantum advantage" has become inconsistently applied across vendors, architectures, and use cases — creating ambiguity that undermines scientific and commercial credibility. This paper proposes an operational definition of quantum advantage that is both platform-agnostic and empirically verifiable, addressing the lack of consensus in the field. The authors identify the algorithmic families most likely to achieve early advantage and envision quantum computing as a complement to classical HPC infrastructure, with near-term impact expected in chemistry, materials discovery, and optimization.