AI planet quality question

Does the AI on higher difficulty levels have some sort of innate planet quality advantage? In the game I just started I'm right next to the Torians and the Yor Collective. It's still *very* early in the game (we're still colonizing planets) and I notice that neither AI civ has any planets of less than 20 quality. Most are 21-23, and each has several in the 24-26 range. Most of my planets are either 15 or 16.

Even the planet quality +5% ability plus soil enrichment plus habitat control wouldn't give that kind of boost unless every single planet both of the AI colonized started in the 18-20 range. Is the PQ +15% ability still available to the AI players?
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Reply #1 Top
Some other thread discussed this in detail... I can't find it right now. But yeah, on genius and incredible levels the AIs get PQ bonuses for free. I think they said it was something like +24% on incredible.

Intelligent is the last level on which the AIs play without real advantages.
Reply #2 Top
Thanks! I don't mind that they get an advantage, I simply wanted to make sure of what was going on so I could plan my strategy.
Reply #3 Top
Justinian, the thread is over at the Strategies forum under 1.03 AI title.