How to choose the right programming language?

Question

Programming languages

Hello, I read a lot of forums on the Internet, although I did not find the answer.
I've already been using php for 2 years and it's my first programming language, now I want to move from web development to application development and artificial intelligence. The forums say python is good for AI, java too, c++ is high-performance, there are high-level languages, also low-level ones, and this makes me interfere.
I wanted to know if the programming language can affect the performance of the program, and if so, which language is better for optimization and multifunctionality? If there is a forum, please give a link or write an answer, I will be grateful for the help
. And I understand correctly that the programming language is just an intermediary between the programmer and the machines (in the sense that he will take the script and turn the machine code?)