[Gandalf Parker]

It depends on what you mean by cheating.
The AI does get a percentage boost to its resources. However it does not seem to know the whole map or have any non-player information.

As for the Knight thing, the people doing the AARs have been playing this game continually for months. Our challenge level that we have to work hard to beat has gone up two small steps. And even then, I only play with an equally high AI partner.

The later levels of AI make huge jumps in its bonuses. I think it will be a LONG time before I consider playing at those levels.