They are. They record the data, stealing it. They search it, and reprint it (in whole or in part) upon request.

They search the data-space or what they’re trained on (our content, the content of human beings), and reproduce statistically defined elements of it.

They’re search engines that have stolen what they’re trained on, and reproduce it as “results”.

Searching and reproducing content they’ve already recorded, is absolutely part of what they are.