Having good tools is definitely a force multiplier, but as you say, we already have those. We are however limited in how fast we can interface with these tools

Having good tools is definitely a force multiplier, but as you say, we already have those. We are however limited in how fast we can interface with these tools. There is a lot of potential improvement from just knowing the answer to a mathematical/logical expression, just by thinking about it. Saving you the context and mode switch. The real power comes from being able to simulate and model complex phenomena using wetware integrated tools. A big component of intelligence is the ability to create accurate mental models, and probe them. If you integrate an accurate physics simulator, a 3D modeler, a ray tracer, etc. You have greatly improved their internal modeling abilities and they can (theoretically) dedicate more neurons to higher abstractions that rely on these well grounded systems. It is also not clear that human level intelligence is any real limit. We could just as well make a super-intelligent AI without tool use. The current hype around tool use is just to make current LLMs a bit better.