So I started an immense map and ended up on the outer right side of the map.
One of the first, if not the first mega event was "the Dread Lords" I'm like heh what eves...
30 turns later... "the Dregin have been wiped out" Hmm neat I've only encountered four races.... I should probably build some really long range scout ships...
turn 150 "The Iridium have been wiped out" interesting... so the AI is actually doing war right... neat
Turn 200 multiple minors have been wiped out. one of my survey ships encounters the dread lords and dies horribly.
Turn 225... another scout ship half way around the map from the first encounters the Dread lords and is killed... hmmm Houston we may have a problem.
Turn 240 Yup... the dread lords control something like 30 planets now..... um..... yay?
Turn 350 The Dread Lords do not appear to use carriers... my carrier fleets are VERY SLOWLY pushing them back
I have to say with the AI increases in 1.4 this is probably the first game that I'm not completely dominate and sorta bored by turn 350 Kudos SD!!!