[Rollo]

Originally posted by Krsqk:
...AIs only explore using designs designated as attack ships; no other types will use unexplored warp points...

that's not true. I cannot recall for all the individual design types (boarding, kamikaze, carrier, etc.), but two things I know for sure:
1) fleets will explore (regardless of the design types included)
2) attack bases will explore

In fact the attack base design types are great for exploring, since they are not included into fleets and wander off alone. Scout ship designs using the attack base design type can help the AI explore and expand.