I only used one simple example. To continue on the hypothetical example, the machines of today won't be able to think of practical uses of the new element/metal. They can't think of creating something from nothing yet. Or creating something new that hasn't been discovered or created by humans. What you described in your second paragraph is AI. It is smart, but it is not yet at the point of singularity. The fact that we don't have inference and AGI, which are significantly lower than the capabilities of the singularity is proof.