Exploring a Career Shift: An MD, a PhD, and a Data-Driven Future

I’m 28 and trying to make a pretty major career decision.
I currently have the option of finishing an MD. I have about 2 years left, but I genuinely dislike medicine and don’t want to practice clinically.
After the MD, I have an opportunity to do a PhD in a strong biomedical research lab. The PhD would probably take ~5 years, so I’d finish around 34. The research could potentially involve computational/AI work in biology.

The alternative I’m seriously considering is leaving medicine now and starting a BSc in Mathematics + Computer Science. That would take roughly 3–4 years, after which I would want to pursue ML/AI research, potentially eventually at a top AI lab or company

My interests are much more aligned with math, algorithms, CS and AI than with medicine.
The thing making me hesitate is the current AI situation. I keep hearing that AI is going to automate software engineering and that CS degrees aren’t as valuable as they used to be. I don’t want to spend 4 years getting a CS degree only to enter a shrinking job market.

For people working in CS/ML/AI or academia:
How would you compare these two paths in 2026?
Is a strong Math + CS background still a good foundation for an AI research career?
How much do you think AI is actually reducing the value of a CS degree versus changing what CS graduates do?

Would you personally spend 3–4 years getting the Math + CS degree in my situation?
How valuable would an MD + PhD be if I ultimately want to work in AI rather than medicine?

I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who actually work in ML/AI or who have switched fields in their late 20s/early 30s, rather than generic “follow your passion” advice.