He fought in the Chinese Civil War and the Korean War, and served as Deputy Political Commissar of the Chengdu Military Region and of the Shenyang Military Region.

Ai was born in Haicheng, Liaoning Province.

He enlisted in the People's Liberation Army in March 1948 and joined the Chinese Communist Party in May 1949.

[1][2] Ai rose through the ranks and served as Deputy Political Commissar of the Chengdu Military Region and of the Shenyang Military Region, He was awarded the rank of major general in 1988, and was promoted to lieutenant general in 1990.

[1][2] Ai died in Shenyang, Liaoning on 29 June 2018, at the age of 86.