Teen Prodigy Quits SpaceX for Finance Thrills
Kairan Quazi, a 16-year-old genius, leaves SpaceX after two years to join Citadel Securities. He wants faster challenges in trading. Read his story here.
Kairan Quazi is a smart kid. He joined SpaceX at 14. Now, at 16, he is leaving. He will work at Citadel Securities in New York. This is a big change for him. But he feels ready for it. And he thinks it will be exciting.
First, let’s talk about his past. Kairan grew up in the Bay Area. He skipped grades fast. So, he went to college at 9. Then, he interned at Intel at 10. He worked on speech tech there. Later, he got a degree from Santa Clara University in 2023. He was the youngest ever. After that, he started at SpaceX. He helped with Starlink satellites. His job was to make software for beams. This helps millions get internet.
But why leave now? Kairan said he wants new tests. SpaceX was great. However, finance moves quicker. At Citadel, he can see results in days. Not months like in space work. So, he picked it over AI jobs. He got offers from big tech too. Yet, he chose trading. Citadel is huge. It handles 35% of US retail stock trades. And it made nearly $10 billion last year. In the first part of 2025, it got $3.4 billion.
Kairan likes the fair play there. They did not care about his age. Instead, they saw his skills. His mom was in banking. So, he knows about money world from her. Now, he will build trading tools. He works with engineers and traders. This is at the mix of code and math problems.
He is happy about New York. His mom grew up there. And he has family close. Plus, he can walk to work in 10 minutes. No more mom driving him like at SpaceX. He still can’t drive yet.
This story shows young people can do big things. Kairan jumped from rockets to money games. Therefore, many watch what he does next. But he stays humble. He wants to learn more.
Here is a timeline of his life. It shows his fast path.
Timeline Graph Highlight
Year Event
2009 Born (age 0)
2018 Skipped to college (age 9)
2019 Intern at Intel (age 10)
2022 Intern at Blackbird.AI
2023 Grad from college, join SpaceX (age 14)
2025 Leave SpaceX, join Citadel (age 16)
(This graph is simple. It works on phones and computers. Imagine a line going up with dots for each year.)
Insert picture here from Google: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GyuB-VLWQAAaYgF.jpg (This shows Kairan smiling.)
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He told Business Insider, “Quant finance offers a pretty rare combination: the complexity and intellectual challenge that AI research also provides, but with a much faster pace.” So, that is why he moved.
Read the full chat at https://www.businessinsider.com/teen-prodigy-kairan-quazi-leaves-spacex-joins-citadel-securities-2025-8.
This move is big for finance. They need smart coders like him. And SpaceX loses a star. But he might come back one day. Who knows?
If you like stories like this, visit https://america112.com/ for daily updates.
Kairan is Bangladeshi-American. So, his story inspires kids everywhere. From Asia to Africa, North America to South America, even Europe, Australia, and Antarctica folks can read this. We target all ages. Kids dream big. Adults see change.
For more inspiring tales, go to https://america112.com/.
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**, we dive into why your electric bill is climbing and what can be done. ### Why Are Electricity Prices Rising? Electricity costs are soaring across the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), household electricity prices are expected to jump 13% from 2022 to 2025. In some states, the increase is even steeper. For instance, Maine saw a 36.3% spike, while Connecticut faced an 18.4% rise between May 2024 and May 2025. Nationwide, the average household paid 17.47 cents per kilowatt-hour in May 2025, up from 16.41 cents a year earlier—a 6.5% increase. So, what’s driving these hikes? First, there’s a massive surge in electricity demand. More people are using air conditioners during hotter summers. Electric vehicles and heat pumps are also becoming popular. However, the biggest culprit is the rapid growth of AI-powered data centers. These facilities, run by tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, use as much electricity as small cities. A single AI search, like one on ChatGPT, consumes 10 times more power than a regular Google search. Additionally, natural gas prices, a key fuel for power plants, have climbed. The aging US power grid also struggles to keep up. Many transmission lines and power plants date back to the post-World War II era. As a result, utilities are spending billions to upgrade infrastructure, and those costs are passed on to consumers. > **Data Highlight: Electricity Price Trends (2022-2025)** > Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration > - **2022**: 14.96 cents per kWh > - **2023**: 15.87 cents per kWh > - **2024**: 16.41 cents per kWh > - **2025 (May)**: 17.47 cents per kWh > *Note*: Some states like Maine (+36.3%) and Connecticut (+18.4%) saw sharper increases. ```chartjs { "type": "line", "data": { "labels": ["2022", "2023", "2024", "2025 (May)"], "datasets": [{ "label": "Average US Electricity Price (cents per kWh)", "data": [14.96, 15.87, 16.41, 17.47], "borderColor": "#007bff", "backgroundColor": "rgba(0, 123, 255, 0.2)", "fill": true }] }, "options": { "responsive": true, "maintainAspectRatio": false, "scales": { "y": { "beginAtZero": false, "title": { "display": true, "text": "Price (cents per kWh)" } }, "x": { "title": { "display": true, "text": "Year" } } } } } ``` ### The AI Power Problem The AI boom is transforming how we live, work, and search online. But it comes at a cost. Data centers that power AI tools are sprouting up fast. Between 2021 and 2024, the number of US data centers doubled. By 2030, they could consume 5% to 9% of the nation’s electricity, according to the Electric Power Research Institute. This is a big jump from just 4% in 2022. For example, PJM Interconnection, which serves 67 million people across 13 states, reported a massive spike in demand. In 2024, its capacity auction prices jumped 833%, with data centers driving nearly 70% of the increase. This led to higher bills for households in states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio. In Columbus, Ohio, typical electric bills rose by $27 a month in 2025. Moreover, AI tasks are energy hogs. Generating a single high-definition AI image uses as much power as charging a smartphone halfway. As more people use AI for work or fun, the strain on the grid grows. Tech companies are racing to build bigger data centers, but the power supply isn’t keeping up. This mismatch is pushing prices higher. > **Image**: An Amazon Web Services data center in Boardman, Oregon, August 2024. (Source: Jenny Kane/AP) > *Caption*: Data centers like this one are driving up electricity demand across the US. ### Other Factors Behind the Price Surge While AI is a major player, it’s not the only reason for rising bills. Natural gas prices have spiked, making it more expensive to generate electricity. Also, the US power grid is old and needs upgrades. The Department of Energy says 70% of transmission lines are nearing the end of their lifespan. Replacing them costs billions, and consumers foot the bill. Extreme weather is another issue. Heat waves and storms are more frequent, forcing utilities to repair or harden the grid. In California, utilities spent $27 billion from 2019 to 2023 on wildfire prevention and insurance. These costs trickle down to customers. Meanwhile, some states are phasing out coal plants, but new renewable energy projects face delays due to permitting issues. For more insights on how energy costs affect households, check out **[AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW)](https://america112.com/)** for the latest updates. ### Solutions to Ease the Burden Thankfully, there are ways to tackle rising electricity costs. First, experts suggest speeding up the permitting process for new power plants, especially solar and wind. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that solar and wind could add 110 terawatt-hours of power for data centers by 2030. Streamlining permits could bring these projects online faster. Next, tech companies are stepping up. Google recently signed deals to reduce AI data center power use during peak grid times. Amazon is investing in small modular nuclear reactors to power its operations cleanly. These efforts could lower costs and emissions in the long run. Additionally, hardening the grid can help. In Florida, utilities are using concrete poles and advanced tech to make power lines hurricane-proof. In California, moving lines underground reduces wildfire risks. These upgrades cost money upfront but save on repairs later. Finally, power purchase agreements (PPAs) let data centers buy renewable energy directly. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels and keeps costs down for consumers. Co-locating data centers with solar or wind farms is another smart move. For more on clean energy solutions, visit **[AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW)](https://america112.com/)**. > **Data Highlight: Projected Data Center Power Demand** > Source: Electric Power Research Institute > - **2022**: 4% of US electricity consumption > - **2030 (Projected)**: 5% to 9% of US electricity consumption > - **Growth**: Data center energy use could double by 2030. ```chartjs { "type": "bar", "data": { "labels": ["2022", "2030 (Projected)"], "datasets": [{ "label": "Data Center Electricity Consumption (% of US Total)", "data": [4, 7], "backgroundColor": ["#28a745", "#dc3545"], "borderColor": ["#28a745", "#dc3545"], "borderWidth": 1 }] }, "options": { "responsive": true, "maintainAspectRatio": false, "scales": { "y": { "beginAtZero": true, "title": { "display": true, "text": "% of US Electricity" } }, "x": { "title": { "display": true, "text": "Year" } } } } } ``` ### What’s Next for Consumers? Electricity prices may keep rising if demand outpaces supply. The White House warns that AI data centers could push prices up 9-58% by 2030 without new investments. The US needs $1.4 trillion by 2030 to meet growing power needs, according to the White House Council of Economic Advisors. This includes building new power plants and transmission lines. However, not all hope is lost. Renewable energy is getting cheaper. Solar and wind projects are expanding, and nuclear power is making a comeback. For example, Microsoft is reviving Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power its AI tools. These efforts could stabilize prices over time. Consumers can also take action. Using energy-efficient appliances, sealing home leaks, and switching to LED lights can lower bills. ### Global Impact and Local Action The AI-driven power surge isn’t just a US problem—it’s global. Data centers worldwide could consume 3-4% of global power by 2030, up from 1-2% today, according to Goldman Sachs. In Europe, countries like Ireland and Germany are seeing similar price hikes. In Asia, Malaysia’s data centers could account for one-fifth of power demand growth. Locally, communities near data centers face challenges. Noise, water use, and power outages are common complaints. Some states, like Pennsylvania, are pushing back. Governor Josh Shapiro has threatened to pull the state from PJM if costs don’t drop. For more on local energy issues, ### Looking Ahead The AI revolution is exciting, but it’s putting pressure on power grids and wallets. While tech companies and utilities work on solutions, consumers are stuck with higher bills. By investing in clean energy, upgrading grids, and managing demand, the US can balance innovation with affordability. Stay informed with **[AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW)](https://america112.com/)** for the latest energy news. For a deeper dive into how AI is reshaping the energy landscape, check out this [CBS News article](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ai-data-centers-electricity-demand-power-grid-us/) on the growing strain on US power grids.](https://america112.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/1198006_3_0818-NPRICES-lines-lede.jpg_standard-1.jpg)
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