Abstract: Operating effectively in an increasingly prolific Internet of Things environment, one needs the ability to message, whether device status, actions taken, recommendations for actions or other information to those with a need to know and support responses to actionable messages. Texts and e-mail are limited; they can neither provide other outputs, be targeted in intelligent fashion nor selectively relayed or contain execution instructions for target devices. The present invention is an Extended-Capability Messaging Appliance (ECMA) that communicates with other IoT devices that provides these capabilities and can include AI. ECMA and non-ECMA AI elements can constitute a Hybrid AI Backbone. The Hybrid AI Integrator receives results from multiple A elements and develops one or more conclusions. An ECMA may be configured as a Body-Area Network for individuals or a Business-Area Network for industry and other commercial applications with an AI Agent called BANDIT that processes requests from a user.