People say ‘AI doesn’t think, it just follows patterns

But what is human thought if not recognizing and following patterns? We take existing knowledge, remix it, apply it in new ways—how is that different from what an AI does?

If AI can make scientific discoveries, invent better algorithms, construct more precise legal or philosophical arguments—why is that not considered thinking?

Maybe the only difference is that humans feel like they are thinking while AI doesn’t. And if that’s the case… isn’t consciousness just an illusion?