# Introduction LayerTao is the abstraction layer on Bittensor, giving developers simple APIs, smart routing, and seamless payments to build decentralized AI faster.\ \ Bittensor has introduced a new paradigm: machine learning models running in a decentralized, incentive-driven network. In theory, this unlocks a global marketplace of intelligence. In practice, however, interacting with that network is still difficult. Developers are not looking for complexity. They want something predictable: * A stable endpoint * Consistent outputs * Clear pricing * Minimal setup Right now, using Bittensor directly means dealing with subnets, nodes, scoring systems, and network-level behavior. That’s powerful, but it’s not developer-friendly. LayerTao exists to sit between those two worlds. It translates a decentralized, evolving system into something that feels familiar, like calling an API. Instead of navigating the network manually, developers make a single request. Everything else is handled underneath. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.layertao.com/welcome-to-layertao/readme.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.