void MaybeStartNewCompany() {
    uint current_companies = (uint)Company::GetNumItems();

    /* Count number of existing AI only companies. */
    uint current_ais = 0;
    Company *c;
    FOR_ALL_COMPANIES(c) {
        if (c->is_ai) current_ais++;
    }

    uint max_network_companies = networking ? settings_client.network.max_companies : MAX_COMPANIES;
    uint ais_to_start = 0;
    for (CompanyID company_id = COMPANY_FIRST; company_id < MAX_COMPANIES && current_companies < max_network_companies && current_ais < _settings_game.difficulty.max_no_competitors; company_id++) {
        if (Company::IsValidID(c))
            continue;
        if (AIConfig::GetConfig(company_id, AIConfig::SSS_FORCE_GAME)->GetSetting("start_date") != 0) 
            break;
        ais_to_start++;
        current_companies++;
        current_ais++;
    }
    if (ais_to_start > 0) {
        DoCommandP(0, CCA_NEW_AI | INVALID_COMPANY << 16, ais_to_start, CMD_COMPANY_CTRL);
    }
}