Quote Originally Posted by bovi
Galactic Civilizations II has pretty decent AI. Give it a tiny amount of bonus income compared to the player, and it's a good match for most.
Yep - BUT - gets a huge advantage in that it knows where every habitable planet and every resource is from day 1 whereas the player has to actively find both. That's a pretty major bonus for the AI as well as just sheer luck as to what's available in your start region of space.

All that being said - you're right that it's still better than most. Damn you - now I'll probably have to start a game......