AI(s) have a long history in most games of being made more superior simply by increasing available resources and asset qualities, otherwise they're typically dumb as door nails. (Door nails might actually be smarter overall; at least they stick around until they absolutely get ripped out.! hehe.)
On the other hand, AI's could be handicapped and made dumber by changing their operating system to... lets say Windows 32-bit/64-bit OS or made smarter by using anything else! Who knew that there’s life beyond Microsoft? lol.
Single player - It would be nice to see the SINS AI seek out real combat and not act, mostly, defensive against its human opponent or rely too much on basic probability of success statistics to launch a decent offensive. The AI is too easy to manipulate.. particularly during Pirate raid bidding…
I never get hit by pirates, unless, I’m synchronizing the destruction of their base or because I don’t care and have too much fire power to avert loosing any bounty credits.
I have won more games of varying types over the years, simply by, when my opponent thinks I'm superior to themselves when in fact I'm not. Like the Trojan horse scenario... give a little take a lot! There is an old expression and analogy that would help SIN’s AI's act smarter: Stop watching the score board and play baseball... Because, how can you succeed in playing baseball by just looking around at the scoreboard to determine what to do next? Until you get right on the field and in to the action… the possibilities are too huge to consider.
My suggestion is to create an AI that takes risks – (not based solely on probability of success and linear scripted rules). An AI that can flush out an opponents main force away from a particular target of interest so as to strike that target hard with a secondary force. Make fake attacks to gain the upper-hand: phase jump to taunt an opponents and distract them from what you’re really up to!
Wow.. enough said! Time to get playing…
My thoughts.. not necessarily yours.