AI drivers in a multiplayer server seem to be counted towards the player count on the matchmaker. Happens on the ISI open servers and others.
its a real p[ain in the %^$# the only solution i have found is to load the steam library server list - it allows you to look at sever details and see who in online - or if the server is on live racers you can check there otherwise it looks like there are busy servers but they are just full of ai's no people - really dumb ass if you ask me
Please guys, you need to disable the feature that counts AI as real players. It's really annoying and it feels like a trick/con every time i run into it.