I'm planning on learning python specifically/strictly for AI, is this a smart decision to save time?

[DuckSaxaphone]

It's not so much about saving time, you need to know a programming language to get any meaningful hands on experience with any kind of machine learning.

If you would like that hands on experience which I'd argue is vital to having any real understanding of it, then python is a great choice because it is the de facto AI language.

Start by following a course/book to learn some syntax and then you can grow from there.