  In this commentary, we discuss the evolving nature of search engines, as they
begin to generate, index, and distribute content created by generative
artificial intelligence (GenAI). Our discussion highlights challenges in the
early stages of GenAI integration, particularly around factual inconsistencies
and biases. We discuss how output from GenAI carries an unwarranted sense of
credibility, while decreasing transparency and sourcing ability. Furthermore,
search engines are already answering queries with error-laden, generated
content, further blurring the provenance of information and impacting the
integrity of the information ecosystem. We argue how all these factors could
reduce the reliability of search engines. Finally, we summarize some of the
active research directions and open questions.
