Is there any indication whatsoever that there's even a glimpse of artificial intelligence out there?

So far, I have seen language models that, quite impressively, translate between different languages, including programming languages and natural language specs. Yes, these models use a wast (compressed) knowledge from pretty much all of the internet.

There are also chain of thought models, yes, but what kind of actual intelligence can they achieve? Can they formulate novel algorithms? Can they formulate new physics hypotheses? Can they write a novel work of fiction?

Or aren't they actually limited by the confines of what we as a species already know?

You seem to be part of a trend where most humans are defined as unintelligent - there are remarkably few people out there capable of formulating novel algorithms or physics hypothesises. Novels there are a few more if we admit unreadable slop produced by people who really should choose careers other than writing. It speaks to the progress that machines have made that traditional tests of intelligence, like holding a conversation or doing well on an undergraduate-level university test, apparently no longer measure anything of importance related to intelligence.

If we admit that even relatively stupid humans show some levels of intelligence, as far as I can tell we've already achieved artificial intelligence.

> Is there any indication whatsoever that there's even a glimpse of artificial intelligence out there?

no