Does the AI terraform?

[ramnblam]

As of the current build does the AI ever terraform there worlds?

[RhinoDad]

That would be good to know as I do not like to do things the AI does not know to do; such as adding additional mining engines on ships.

[AKicebear]

I've never seen the AI build or suggest building a terraformer facility.

[OrnluWolfjarl]

I can confirm, the AI advisor never suggests to me building terraforming facilities. I've also never encountered any terraformed colonies of AI empires.

But it will suggest deconstructing the facility once it's done terraforming to the facility's max capacity (to save money from its expensive upkeep costs)

Since the AI is trying to spend money as soon as it gets it, I have a suspicion that even if Terraforming logic is implemented, the AI empires will never spend money on it. It's the most expensive facility family, and the AI will probably always spend money on other cheaper things before it accumulates enough cash or income to purchase or support a terraforming facility.

[thegreybetween]

The AI never buying any because it is always spending the cash before it can afford it makes sense. However, if it is the player empire and you're making sure you build up a large cash reserve, then the AI advisors should still suggest building a terraforming facility if it detects a viable candidate. I usually maintain a healthy cash reserve, and I don't recall the AI ever proactively suggesting that I build a terraforming facility even if I can easily afford it. Not sure if it is an issue, just chiming in my support that I've never seen the behavior even if there is adequate cash.

I do confirm that the AI does prompt me to dismantle terraforming facilities once they have completed their course.

[ramnblam]

The reason I was orginally asking because like some of you I have never seen the AI with an improved world. While I havent played the latest big patch one thing I noticed was that my core worlds were outperforming the AIs significantly economically even when adjusting for population and other bonuses. Quality is such a big factor in ouput that the AI doesnt invest in terraforming at all is an issue that should be addressed.

[AKicebear]

The AI never buying any because it is always spending the cash before it can afford it makes sense. However, if it is the player empire and you're making sure you build up a large cash reserve, then the AI advisors should still suggest building a terraforming facility if it detects a viable candidate. I usually maintain a healthy cash reserve, and I don't recall the AI ever proactively suggesting that I build a terraforming facility even if I can easily afford it. Not sure if it is an issue, just chiming in my support that I've never seen the behavior even if there is adequate cash.

I do confirm that the AI does prompt me to dismantle terraforming facilities once they have completed their course.

Modding terraforming facility initial cost to near zero, I still haven't seen the AI build one. Cost may be a constraint, but I don't think it knows how/when to build them even with the budget.

[Cyclopsslayerr]

Necro of an old thread, but YES, I have seen, rarely, the AI build a terraformer. One particular instance was later game, mid-2800s and they were building a couple +10%. You get the most bang-per-buck building them earlier, but they must be very far down on the priority list.
FYI - I saw this playing under XL a month or three ago. I seem to recall it being about the time of the DLC release.