Unlike existing decentralized computing systems, AO supports computation without limitations on size and form imposed by the protocol, while maintaining the network's verifiability and trust minimization. AO achieves this by acting as a single, unified computing environment hosted on a set of heterogeneous nodes in a distributed network. It is designed to support an arbitrary number of parallel processes coordinated through an open messaging layer. This standard connects independently running processes into a cohesive “network” — much like how websites on independent servers form a unified experience through hyperlinks.