To elaborate: AI should be given advantage, I just don't like how it is handled, specifically speaking about exploration cheating.
I don't know if it's confirmed or not whether AI sees the habitble planets, I saw it did. When I play in huge galaxies it's ok, I have enough space to build up my empire, however I tried to play in medium just to get more intense, faster games.
One game I met with an other civ with my survey.. actually it was 2 colony ships I met, not their scouts or something.. they were headed directly accross my homeworld area, and guess what, just next to me was a system with two habitables. I did my best I could to pump out colony ships right from the start (and I know how to optimize this), but still couldn't compete with their, I guess fast bought ships. So they beat me for both of those planets. thing is that my first two colony ships were heading north and shouth, I thought I could use my 3.-4. to get to the system just behind me (it was at the edge of the map).
That was just one example that made me ragequit.. there were many more. Thing is I wouldn't call the ai great if it needs this kind of advantage (talking about incredible level btw). It should be taught how to do exploration, planet management (I saw some sorry state planets after conquering them) and stuff like that. production bonus is fine, science bonus .. should be carefull there, but some is ok. giving them inherently stronger ships? I don't think so.. is the ai really so miserable that it needs it?
long story short: right now early game advantage could be crippling on smaller maps, especially knowing where the habitable planets are.. that shold be removed or limited for each size/level.