In hebrew what sound does the the single dot (nikkud) place under אי make? ee or I?

Answer 1

If you refer the "ee" sound as a longer "i", then the answer is "i".

The vowel mark (Nikkud) Chirik (/Hirrik: אִ) is indicating a short vowel "i".
In Modern Hebrew we usually indicate a long "ee" with the letter Yud (י).
We don't have a special Nikkud or a letter for the diphthong "I" ("ah-y"), and it is usually written: "איי".

Answer 2

EE. For sure. There is no single sound in the nekudot that makes the sound I.

Think of the word 'eema' (mother). It is spelled with an aleph that has a chirik (the single dot - ee sound) under it.

Hasta la vista, origato, cha-ciao, buh-bye.

.