He then studied statistics and accounting in the Ma'anshan Steel College (later Anhui University of Technology).

[2] In September 1994, he secured a job as a financial manager at the Baosteel Group in Shanghai.

[3] On May 22, 2012, he was named a member of the municipal Party Standing Committee of Shanghai, ascending to sub-provincial level.

[3] On November 10, 2015, Ai was placed under investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Chinese Communist Party for "serious violations of regulations," the first official of his rank to come under scrutiny from Shanghai.

The party's internal investigation concluded that Ai "violated political discipline", conspired against the investigation, did not honestly report his activities to the [investigating] organization, accepted gifts and cash, violated the Eight-point Regulation, frequented private clubs and "played golf", abused his power to aid in the business activities of others, facilitated transactions exchanging power for sex, and "illegally possessed public assets".