Would specialist engineering and medical AIs help?

Would separate engineering or weapons AIs be more useful than relying only on one ship AI?

Yes. Specialist engineering, medical, and weapons AIs would add focused support and could train toward eventual ship-AI duties.

One ship-wide AI can monitor every system, but specialist AIs would add redundancy and focus. Engineering and weapons AIs could support their departments, while a medical AI would help keep the organic pilots needed for slipstream alive. These roles could also train artificial crew for later service as a full ship AI. The arrangement gives the main AI backups without fragmenting its overall awareness.