If we observe an individual ant we see an insignificant insect. Not capable of much of anything on it's own. But a colony of ants are known to build vast structures. The sheer effort and coordination insects like ants can demonstrate building something that complex is a proof of hive mind. Intelligence far beyond any individual member of the collective.
Us humans think of ourself as highly individual beings. We are obviously intelligent, capable of doing complex things on our own.
What about if something far more intelligent were observing us, something so far beyond our comprehension as we are above ants, what would theys see? Our so called intelligence would be insignificant to them. But even they would acknowledge our greatest achievements. Huge building projects demonstrating engineering provess no single human could ever hope to accomplish alone. To such being our intelligence would seem as much of hive mind as the intelligence of ants is to us.
We might have a higher sense of self than ants. But in the end we are as much of a hive mind as they are.