However, the status quo is that "AI" doesn't exist, computers only ever do exactly what they are programmed to do, and "thinking/reasoning" wasn't on the table.
I am not the one that needs to disprove the status quo.
No, the status quo is that we really do not know. You made a claim why it is impossible for LLMs to think on the grounds that they are statistical models, so I disproved your claim.
If it really was that simple to dismiss the possibility of "AI", no one would be worried about it.
If it really was that simple to dismiss the possibility of "AI", no one would be worried about it.