diff --git a/solara/__init__.py b/solara/__init__.py
index 0f647194f..04ff6c829 100644
--- a/solara/__init__.py
+++ b/solara/__init__.py
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ def _using_solara_server():
 from .autorouting import generate_routes, generate_routes_directory, RenderPage, RoutingProvider, DefaultLayout
 from .checks import check_jupyter
 from .scope import get_kernel_id, get_session_id
+from .tasks import task, use_task, Task, TaskResult
 
 
 def display(*objs, **kwargs):
diff --git a/solara/hooks/use_thread.py b/solara/hooks/use_thread.py
index 20f083744..b10262589 100644
--- a/solara/hooks/use_thread.py
+++ b/solara/hooks/use_thread.py
@@ -7,13 +7,14 @@
 
 import solara
 from solara.datatypes import Result, ResultState
-from solara.util import cancel_guard, nullcontext
+from solara.util import cancel_guard, nullcontext, deprecated
 
 SOLARA_ALLOW_OTHER_TRACER = os.environ.get("SOLARA_ALLOW_OTHER_TRACER", False) in (True, "True", "true", "1")
 T = TypeVar("T")
 logger = logging.getLogger("solara.hooks.use_thread")
 
 
+@deprecated("`use_thread` is deprecated, use the more modern and performant `use_task` or `Task` instead", category=FutureWarning)
 def use_thread(
     callback: Union[
         Callable[[threading.Event], T],
diff --git a/solara/lab/__init__.py b/solara/lab/__init__.py
index e0c6b94e1..822a6b7f3 100644
--- a/solara/lab/__init__.py
+++ b/solara/lab/__init__.py
@@ -2,8 +2,29 @@
 from .components import *  # noqa: F401, F403
 from .utils import cookies, headers  # noqa: F401, F403
 from ..lifecycle import on_kernel_start  # noqa: F401
-from ..tasks import task, use_task, Task, TaskResult  # noqa: F401, F403
+from ..tasks import task as _task, use_task as _use_task, Task as _Task, TaskResult as _TaskResult
 from ..toestand import computed  # noqa: F401
+from ..util import deprecated
+
+
+@deprecated("solara.lab.task has been moved out of the lab namespace, use solara.task instead")
+def task(*args, **kwargs):
+    _task(*args, **kwargs)
+
+
+@deprecated("solara.lab.use_task has been moved out of the lab namespace, use solara.use_task instead")
+def use_task(*args, **kwargs):
+    return _use_task(*args, **kwargs)
+
+
+@deprecated("solara.lab.Task has been moved out of the lab namespace, use solara.Task instead")
+class Task(_Task):
+    pass
+
+
+@deprecated("solara.lab.TaskResult has been moved out of the lab namespace, use solara.TaskResult instead")
+class TaskResult(_TaskResult):
+    pass
 
 
 def __getattr__(name):
diff --git a/solara/tasks.py b/solara/tasks.py
index 5b559e35e..61faefba2 100644
--- a/solara/tasks.py
+++ b/solara/tasks.py
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ def task(
     ```solara
     import asyncio
     import solara
-    from solara.lab import task
+    from solara import task
 
     @task
     async def fetch_data():
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ def Page():
     ```solara
     import time
     import solara
-    from solara.lab import task
+    from solara import task
 
     @task
     def fetch_data():
@@ -600,7 +600,7 @@ def Page():
     ```solara
     import time
     import solara
-    from solara.lab import task
+    from solara import task
 
 
     @task
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ def Page():
     ```solara
     import time
     import solara
-    from solara.lab import task
+    from solara import task
 
 
     @task
@@ -739,7 +739,7 @@ def use_task(
 def use_task(
     f: Union[None, Callable[[], R]] = None,
     *,
-    dependencies: Union[None, List] = [],
+    dependencies: Union[None, List] = None,
     raise_error=True,
     prefer_threaded=True,
 ) -> Union[Callable[[Callable[[], R]], "Task[[], R]"], "Task[[], R]"]:
@@ -760,7 +760,7 @@ def use_task(
     ```solara
     import time
     import solara
-    from solara.lab import use_task, Task
+    from solara import use_task, Task
 
 
     @solara.component
@@ -787,7 +787,7 @@ def square():
     ```solara
     import asyncio
     import solara
-    from solara.lab import use_task, Task
+    from solara import use_task, Task
 
 
     @solara.component
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ async def square():
     ## Arguments
 
     - `f`: The function or coroutine to run as a task.
-    - `dependencies`: A list of dependencies that will trigger a rerun of the task when changed, the task will run automatically execute when the `dependencies=None`
+    - `dependencies`: A list of dependencies that will trigger a rerun of the task when changed, the task will not automatically execute when the `dependencies=None`.
     - `raise_error`: If true, an error in the task will be raised. If false, the error should be handled by the
         user and is available in the `.exception` attribute of the task result object.
     - `prefer_threaded` - bool: Will run coroutine functions as a task in a thread when threads are available.
diff --git a/solara/util.py b/solara/util.py
index c3fffa8ce..fa7de2a84 100644
--- a/solara/util.py
+++ b/solara/util.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple, Union
 from urllib.parse import urlencode
+import warnings
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     import numpy as np
@@ -346,3 +347,33 @@ def wrapper():
         return return_value
 
     return wrapper
+
+
+def deprecated(reason: str, category=DeprecationWarning):
+    """
+    Mark functions as deprecated. When the function is called, a warning is shown with the provided reason.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+
+    reason : str
+        The message to display when the deprecated function is used.
+    category : type, optional
+        The warning category to use, defaults to DeprecationWarning. Use DeprecationWarning when users do not need to see
+        the warning, and FutureWarning when users should see the warning.
+
+    """
+
+    def decorator(func):
+        @functools.wraps(func)
+        def wrapped(*args, **kwargs):
+            warnings.warn(
+                reason,
+                category=category,
+                stacklevel=2,  # this way we show the line where the function is called
+            )
+            return func(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        return wrapped
+
+    return decorator
diff --git a/solara/website/pages/__init__.py b/solara/website/pages/__init__.py
index fc1b0377d..4d905feca 100644
--- a/solara/website/pages/__init__.py
+++ b/solara/website/pages/__init__.py
@@ -209,6 +209,8 @@
     "/api/widget": "/documentation/api/utilities/widget",
     "/api/default_layout": "/documentation/components/layout",
     "/api/title": "/documentation/components/page/title",
+    "/documentation/components/lab/use_task": "/documentation/api/hooks/use_task",
+    "/documentation/components/lab/task": "/documentation/api/utilities/task",
 }
 
 
diff --git a/solara/website/pages/documentation/components/lab/use_task.py b/solara/website/pages/documentation/api/hooks/use_task.py
similarity index 70%
rename from solara/website/pages/documentation/components/lab/use_task.py
rename to solara/website/pages/documentation/api/hooks/use_task.py
index 1e2d63480..f0839eeeb 100644
--- a/solara/website/pages/documentation/components/lab/use_task.py
+++ b/solara/website/pages/documentation/api/hooks/use_task.py
@@ -2,10 +2,9 @@
 
 import solara
 import solara.autorouting
-import solara.lab
 from solara.website.components import NoPage
 from solara.website.utils import apidoc
 
 title = "use_task"
 Page = NoPage
-__doc__ += apidoc(solara.lab.use_task)  # type: ignore
+__doc__ += apidoc(solara.use_task)  # type: ignore
diff --git a/solara/website/pages/documentation/api/hooks/use_thread.md b/solara/website/pages/documentation/api/hooks/use_thread.md
index 4055de8b0..fa45a2d34 100644
--- a/solara/website/pages/documentation/api/hooks/use_thread.md
+++ b/solara/website/pages/documentation/api/hooks/use_thread.md
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-# use_thread
+# use_thread (deprecated)
+
+### use_thread is deprecated, use [use_task](/documentation/api/hooks/use_task) or [Task](/documentation/api/utilities/task) instead
 
 ```python
 def use_thread(
diff --git a/solara/website/pages/documentation/api/hooks/use_thread.py b/solara/website/pages/documentation/api/hooks/use_thread.py
index bf6dfa723..3c977c2df 100644
--- a/solara/website/pages/documentation/api/hooks/use_thread.py
+++ b/solara/website/pages/documentation/api/hooks/use_thread.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 from solara.alias import rw
 
 HERE = Path(__file__).parent
-title = "use_thread"
+title = "use_thread (deprecated)"
 __doc__ = open(HERE / "use_thread.md").read()
 
 
diff --git a/solara/website/pages/documentation/components/lab/task.py b/solara/website/pages/documentation/api/utilities/task.py
similarity index 71%
rename from solara/website/pages/documentation/components/lab/task.py
rename to solara/website/pages/documentation/api/utilities/task.py
index 5babb7c44..7fd8e0a9a 100644
--- a/solara/website/pages/documentation/components/lab/task.py
+++ b/solara/website/pages/documentation/api/utilities/task.py
@@ -2,10 +2,9 @@
 
 import solara
 import solara.autorouting
-import solara.lab
 from solara.website.components import NoPage
 from solara.website.utils import apidoc
 
 title = "Task"
 Page = NoPage
-__doc__ += apidoc(solara.lab.task)  # type: ignore
+__doc__ += apidoc(solara.task)  # type: ignore