In both cases that problem is now fixed, according to Brad. The Iconians and several other AI were sitting around not expanding. I even posted pics and a ticket with an uploaded game. Todays 'official' patch will fix it. 

Start a new game and lets hear. I am going to wait to gold release in the event they patch it up some more. 

twitch.tv/Illauna - I lost the video from yesterday I didn't realize my archive setting was changed to not auto archive

I did some how to plays - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGBtzjeQ2-0&list=PLQ6cMI_FhPVWWNtKaP_HNeKf8Uaqq-Pj5

I was not feeling well when I made those so some of my choices are "questionable" near the 4th video. Seriously don't straight out buy a sensor ship. 

I'm considering doing more streaming. I haven't decided on a day, might be Monday since it's not a World of Warcraft raid night. 

I started a new game yesterday and 30 turns in all the AIs are swimming in cash, they all went from their initial 5000 to roughly 20,000 credits over that period. I don't understand what's changed to make the AIs so filthy rich suddenly. I'm playing on tough difficulty in case that matters, they might have changed the bonuses the AIs get at that level? However, despite hoarding all this miraculous cash they receive (somehow making nearly 1,000 credits per turn on turn 1), the AIs seem to be expanding fine, so at least there's that good news.

Again I started a new game sunday night, and another one today.

First game was on normal, second was on gifted.

Iconians expand very fast, but then they don't seem to research anything.  I was miles ahead of them in research.  I gave them many techs, trying to jump start them, but it didn't work. 

In my first game, on normal, I conquered the entire galaxy letting them alone, having their planets flip one by one (that benevolent trait where all colonies&starbases flip to your side... wow! ), 'til the last one flipped to me and I won a conquest victory.  But they never expanded beyond initial colonization.  And weird thing is the Drengin seemed very passive, not attacking me at all after the initial waves were repelled.  They even ran in front of my ships instead of trying to softening me up.

Today, another game on gifted, similar thing.  They barely advanced in research, in fact, I had to jump start them again to get a few techs to trade later on.

Eventually, the Altarians declared war to me and they surrendered all their planets to me.  About 1/5th of the map.  Then Iridium did the same.  So I'm not at about 2/5, Altarians (ally) is at 2/5 while Krynn and Yor share the last 1/5.  Turn 247.

I'm not sure it is wise for the AI to suddenly decide to surrender with so many planets.  It seems to me the Altarians will always developp unchecked, unless I counter them (and their carriers are tough to beat early on... something to remember if I play them again )