Has Anyone Ever Lost to the AI Before?

[inigma]

ok, I've read all the guides, strategies, and what not... enough material that it took me 2 weeks to read it all.

In my first game ever of SEIV, I'm playing against 20 AI, max difficulty, low bonus to AI. unmodded 1.91 except 255 systems and 20000 units.

At turn 20 I've colonized 1/8 of the galaxy. I'm researching warp closers first and demanding gifts from my weaker trade allies to assimilate their tech. I've also demanded their planets in systems I've claimed so I can fully own the systems and not go to war with them. I also demand each and every ship I see entering my territory as a gift, (after of course the AI offers trade treaty). I've got rock and gas techs, and O2, H, and CO2 breathers as a result.

At turn 30, my tech also includes the combined total of all tech from known aliens (man those weaklings are guillable).

At turn 46 I'm 365k and in first place. Second place AI is 111k. I've also created my first planet out of a tiny asteroid field. Also my monolith IIIs have started kicking in.

Before I hit MEE, I expect to close all my warp points, get max tech, maximize my internal development, and then reopen a warp point to attack the galaxy with a vengence, one wormhole at a time. For honor's sake, I'll let the AI declare war on me first and fire the first shot. If I hit MEE before my warp closers finish building in 10 turns, I've got enough double Warhead III mines at every warp point to send the AI retreating to their research centers to learn minesweeping V.

After I eat the AI alive in this game, I fully expect to take on modded AIs for a greater game experience. I just wonder, has anyone ever lost to the AI before?

I can't wait to get my life settled enough to start playing humans... and so start playing with some evil human vs human strategies.