Sure, I suppose the AI will do that but a human rarely would pick the artist over a scientist or engineer.
Yeah, it's a very short-sighted decision, especially since those AI's only have a single art/artifact slot (from the Palace). They get an a Great Work of Art now, but that means when they get their first one naturally, they have to burn it for a Golden Age since there is no room for more art (unless they are lucky and got Cathedrals).