Whether language is necessary for intelligence remains a longstanding question in the philosophy of language. Every field of research—from neuroscience to psychology, linguistics, and computer science—has its own perspective on this issue.
One important point to consider: Language isn’t always used in problem solving: finding your directions, solving a math problem or a puzzle, adapting your body response to an immediate threat… all actions exhibiting a form of intelligence.
From a linguistic perspective, does language equal thought? Yes and no. It depends. Read the literature, form your own opinion, and avoid relying on catchphrases or leaderboard scores. Benchmarks are inherently relative, and the field is far from unanimous on how to define intelligence or intelligent behavior.
There are always nuances in how we perceive “reality.”

Image: read about the “Eliza effect”