Just got the beta 2!  Really impressed with the new tech tree, and I can't really comment yet on balance or strength of these abilities but they look awesome. 

That said, one important point:  I started a game with 4 opponents.  With one of them I started with

+1 race relations, +3 diplomatic inclination, + 1 military strength

This was an instant 50%.  I immediately formed a cease fire and a trade alliance.  While supremely awesome, i'd say we should have to at least have encountered one of their scouts, if not found one of their colonies before we can talk.  While such a roadblock is no where near as extreme as all the research required in beta 1, it also will add at least a bit of realism to how relations should be working and remove that instant, free ally I received.