Originally posted by Titi
And nobody ever steals technology ? That's ususally why dips and spies are for in my games, since I trade techs early in the game, but after don't want to give AI advanced technology (did you notice that they almost always trade their new acquired tech the turn after ?)
You mean after gifting or trading early, the AI still has something you need to steal? I'm usually so far ahead, if AI has something I need I trade him something older. If I'm trying to "control" AI research I'll use MPE to see what they are working on and gift it to them (if it's not too dangerous) so they choose something else (that I want) to research, then trade for it when they get it.
AI trades techs among themselves as long as (1) they have made contact (sometimes I make "walls" of units to keep one AI civ from contacting another!) and (2) they are not at war. Often they will end a war with a flurry of tech trading. If possible, gift the techs directly so you get the benefit of the gift (like asking for tribute next turn) and they dont get any friendlier.