I've had an idea for a while.
How about letting the AI build stuff from docks?
This would not overshadow their standard means of production (the existing mechanics), and in fact when building through these, they would be subject to ship caps (for example, if they have more than or equal to 96 fighters in the galaxy of Mk. N, which is almost all the time, then they wouldn't be able to use docks to produce them). Thus, this means of production would be rare.
It could even be that they won't bother until they start feeling threatened enough such that they feel they can't wait for the next "warp" to become "ready".
It would also give you a reason to go for capturable docks; you want to get those docks away from AI hands before the AI decides to start using them against you. (Especially the experimental ones and the fabricators for ship types they haven't "unlocked" normally)
Not sure about structure production from their command center, as many of the AI structures don't really make sense as buildables...