So you want me to provide some evidence that it's getting smarter, but you can't provide any that it's getting worse other than anecdotal evidence?

What evidence would you accept?

Yes, which has improved some tasks measurably. ~20% improvement on programming tasks, as a practical example. It has also improved tool use and agentic tasks, allowing the llm to plan ahead and adjust it's initial approach based on later parts.

Having the llm talk through the tasks allows it to improve or fix bad decisions taken early based on new realizations on later stages. Sort of like when a human thinks through how to do something.

Lul yes but no, but they are clearly better at many types of tasks.