With ‘VisionQuest’, Marvel has inadvertently raised some murky new questions about Spider-Man. The seemingly insignificant fact that E.D.I.T.H., Tony Stark’s high-tech artificial intelligence system, could have huge implications for the spell Doctor Strange placed at the end of ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’
If the entire world forgot that Peter Parker was Spider-Man, what happened to the digital records and artificial intelligence systems that once knew the truth?
Was Doctor Strange’s Spell Affecting Artificial Intelligence?
To save the multiverse, Peter asks Doctor Strange to help him make the world forget about him. The repercussions are devastating. MJ, Ned, and even the closest of his friends cannot recall their association with him. Peter begins anew, putting aside his personal relationships to save the ones he cares for.
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But how the spell works is still a mystery. Was it just to wipe away people’s memories, or did it also change digital databases, photographs, surveillance footage, and other records that might lead to Peter’s identity? That’s where E.D.I.T.H.’s memory becomes really interesting.
If the AI remembers Peter’s history, then it is possible that Strange’s magic didn’t affect all stored information equally. Of course, there’s an important distinction between remembering Peter Parker and retaining information about Tony Stark’s former employee. E.D.I.T.H. was founded by Tony, and their records may include information about Peter that may not be in conflict with the spell.
Is This A Plot Hole Or A Clue To The Spell’s Limits?
The most significant part of the question is whether E.D.I.T.H.’s assertion that her first boss was a high school junior is a recollection of Peter or simply a retention of information regarding its operation. If the system can still recognize Peter by the original records, Marvel might have to explain why they still exist after the spell.
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The magic could have been directed at people’s knowledge instead of systematically changing every piece of technology. There’s also a possibility that it’s just a continuity error and not a set-up. At this point, it’s too soon to call this a plot hole.
However, if ‘VisionQuest’ is making a point of showcasing E.D.I.T.H.’s retained knowledge, Marvel may be setting up an interesting explanation of Doctor Strange’s magic, and maybe even a return of Peter Parker’s past.
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