The tiny icons are good. There was a touch device fad that surfaced, and is subsequently dying, now that people realise that using laptop screen realestate more efficiently helps those doing actual work.
I had the same reaction as well, the macOS designs looked busy and cluttered. I was surprised that AI companies had landed on something more refined.
If nothing else: why is the left sidebar in macOS Liquid Glass on a raised panel? There's no need for it, and that's a whole round-rect of unnecessary visual clutter that can be removed.