Tony Stark has built many Iron Man and Spider-Man suits in the Avengers: Age of Ultron which gave him a much bigger role in the MCU, but also meant a new AI was needed for Stark’s systems. Karen was introduced as the AI for Peter Parker’s Spider-Man suits and is voiced by Jennifer Connelly.
Iron Man's AI systems are more than just computer systems, and seem to potentially be sentient themselves. Karen speaks to Peter very conversationally and gives him emotional advice which was also why Spider-Man: No Way Home, it is likely that Karen is still being used by Stark Industries and will reappear.
How JARVIS & Karen Are Connected In Real Life
JARVIS and Karen have a bigger connection than just both being Stark’s trusted AI’s, as Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly who voice JARVIS and Karen are partners in real life. Bettany and Connelly’s relationship goes back way further than voicing AI’s in the MCU; they have been married for two decades as they tied the knot in 2003 and have two children together, as well as one from Connelly’s previous relationship. Top Gun: Maverick star Connelly and Bettany met when working together on A Beautiful Mind, so the connection between JARVIS and Karen is much sweeter knowing Bettany and Connelly’s relationship.
Jennifer Connelly Can Be Part Of The MCU
Jennifer Connelly can play a bigger role in the MCU now too, and in a role completely unrelated to Karen. Jennifer Connelly played Betty Ross in Hulk, Bruce Banner’s on and off girlfriend who also worked with Bruce on the gamma radiation and Nano-Med technology. Betty was also the only person who could make The Hulk calm down, and Betty was a key character in Hulk. Hulk is not currently part of the MCU, but that does not mean audiences will not see Connelly reprise her role as Betty Ross.
With the introduction (and expansion) of the MCU's Multiverse, the MCU is connecting different versions of the comic book movies and the same could be done with Hulk. Similarly to Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland uniting in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the 2003 Hulk movie could become part of the Marvel multiverse which would mean Connelly’s Betty Ross could appear. The Hulk’s multiverse has not been explored yet so this would be a great way for the MCU to expand on the Hulk’s story and bring Jennifer Connelly fully into the MCU.
