Read the AI Guide First

https://sp.zhabite.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2557144161

Follow this guide, I found the AI pilot do well as my Lineman or shield role, if I equip them correctly.
So with AI, I play myself as the Long range missile and Laser guy role, and I can see battlefield more clearly.


My Tips:

1.REMOVE all S-Laser, Machine Gun, SRM from AI's Mech.
AI want to shoot weapons at max range, you give them a short range weapon, they will keep charging and hit by the enemy's full firepower.

2. Full Armor the Torso, and make a 3:1 Front Armor.
AI don't avoid the enemy fire line, so make them harder. Use them as your shield.

3.Make AI mech's weapon group 1 group for 2 M-Laser.
AI don't shoot high heat weapon group if they close to overheating, but they will shoot lower heat weapon groups rapidly.

4. Equip AI Mech with the same max Range.
The Weapon's max range decide HOW AI moves. Keep the max range are almost the same.
For example, the main weapon in game, the M-Laser works good with AC/10 , so the AI's engage range will be 400-500m.

I think AI pilots work well with these mechs under in early game, if you equip them M-Laser and AC/10.

Light

Locust LCT-3V,
2 Torso M-Laser, REMOVE the machine-gun and ammo, you can full armor it
Very Low Cost. Buy 1-2, you can use them to adjust the drop ton.
I don't know why, but AI pilots use this small mech very well as tank and turret killer!

Javalin JVN-10F,
4 Torso M-Laser, Low Cost, well balanced, buy 1-3. good early game mech.


Medium

Hunchback HBK-4P,
6 Torso M-Laser, 2 Arm M-Laser. Very good AI Mech. just REMOVE the S-Laser.
The only problem with this mech is walking slowly.

Hunchback HBK-4H
Hunchback with 4 M-Laser and 1 AC/10, just like HBK-4P, it's very good for AI.
But you need get AC/10 and ammo to make them works, so running costs are higher than HBK-4P.
The famous AC/20 version is very difficult to use, because it have shorter max range and less M-Laser.


Heavy

Champion CHP-1N/CHP-1N2/CHP-2N
4 Torso M-Laser, 1 Torso Ballistic,
REMOVE the Missile(AI use missile very bad), put the AC/10 and M-Laser Set on it.
Champions are very good for your lance's main AI Mech.

Grasshopper GHR-5P
4 torso M-Laser, 2 torso PPC, well armored.
A Very good heavy class laser boat, the double PPC will shining the battlefield.
But because the PPC has 920m max range, it will sometimes stay back, a little difficult to use as shield.


Assault

Annihilator
4 M-Laser, 4 AC/10
Annihilator has great firepower, can be the ultimate AI Mech, but lose their arms(with hard to find high tier AC/10!) easily.

Banshee BNC-3S
Greatest workhorse AI Mech.
4 M-Laser, 2 PPC, 1 AC/10, most of weapons are set in torso, and heavily armored.
Just REMOVE the s-laser, it will works well.


Others

Jenner JR7-D/F　
4 Arm M-Laser, not so bad, but arms broken easily.
It's useful in early game, but I like Javalin JVN-10F more.

Vulcan VL-5T
4 torso M-Laser.
It's useful in early game, but after remove the (bad for AI) machine-gun and flamer, it's just a little tougher and cost higher Javalin JVN-10F.
I think JVN-10F is enough until you get something 50-ton mechs.



This is only my opion, wish this article will help you, happy hunting.