Depends on what one considers a "hack". Epistemologically, yes, it is a hack because it already assumes a 3D world identifiable via such means, and therefore may make the AI incapable of "reconstructing" in its "brain" more dimensions. Whereas if the AI has to learn the "hard way", it may be able to project that analogously to other ideas, and could "speak" of them in the same terms we do when speaking about dimensions.
Of course, if we're only looking for productivity from the AI, then philosophical "correctness" is a needless endeavor. ... But it might be more fun.
With vision we can estimate depth, but sometimes we need movement for that.