Nine years into the Marvel Cinematic Universe's portrayal of Peter Parker, Spider-Man continues to be accompanied by an artificial intelligence assistant, a tradition that began with his first AI, Karen. The latest iteration of this recurring theme appears in Spider-Man: No Way Home with the introduction of E.V., an AI built by Peter himself.
Peter Parker's first AI companion, Karen, was introduced in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Developed within the suit designed by Tony Stark, Karen served as a comforting presence and a guide to the suit's functionalities, voiced by Jennifer Connelly. Karen operated similarly to Stark's other AI, JARVIS, monitoring vital signs and responding to voice commands. A notable moment involved Karen activating an "instant kill" mode unintentionally, highlighting the AI's advanced capabilities and Peter's learning curve with the technology. Unfortunately, Karen was destroyed along with Peter's Stark-tech suit at the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Following Karen's demise, EDITH, an AI security system left by Tony Stark, took over. EDITH, an acronym for "Even Dead, I'm The Hero," was housed in a pair of high-tech glasses. Similar to Karen, EDITH posed a potential danger when Peter accidentally activated a weapons satellite. He eventually entrusted EDITH to Mysterio, only to reclaim them later. However, EDITH was confiscated along with Peter's technology when his identity was revealed at the beginning of Spider-Man: No Way Home and was later listed as offline in his suit. The Department of Damage Control now possesses EDITH, though her ultimate status remains unclear.
In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter, now without Stark technology, creates E.V., voiced by Naomi Watts. Director Destin Daniel Cretton described E.V. as "sadly, the closest thing Peter has to a friend," a sentiment that underscores Peter's profound isolation following the magical spell that erased his friends' memories of him. E.V. assists Peter in tracking villains and providing crime alerts, serving a practical purpose while also filling a void in his social life. While some critics have previously voiced concerns about Spider-Man becoming overly reliant on technology, E.V.'s integration is seen as less intrusive than Karen's, striking a better balance that allows Peter to feel more self-sufficient. Despite her utility and companionship, E.V.'s future in the franchise remains uncertain, following the pattern of her predecessors' impermanence.