See Monster AI

for a discussion of 9000 SECOND AI turns. I hope that I can suggest some easy changes to the engine based on my optimization and previous AI experience. If so then the changes should be in the next patch or two. In the meantime just focus on crushing any AI that gets big and let the small fry alone. Basically that is what you do anyway, isn't it ? I think when the hardcode was written he just assumed that no AI empire would EVER get that big, an unfair assumption that says the AI can NEVER WIN. I really hated the cheating in MOO2 by the AI, but at least on impossible setting the AI would whip my butt sometimes, especially the Saccra....