FWIW, the AI always gets mad at me after a year or two. But then again...I don't really know why. I do refuse a treaty now and again (which I am sure annoys them) and never ignore them. Maybe that is why I have such a hard time.
Most of the time I play (I have yet to complete a game) the AI eventually declare war after the first year or two of contact. What am I doing that ya'll aren't? I always seem to piss off the computer and you guys always are upset at the peace.
Ironic.
All I do is build my fleet, and increase the population, but I have been recently playing with small galaxy, medium to low players and low player difficulty. Pretty soon the AI goes ballistic and the game drags on in stalemate. I end up bottled inside my own systems too busy fending off attacks to expand or attack them.
Oh, well...the grass is greener...