Startup Spines plans to publish up to 8,000 books in 2025 using AI, charging authors between $1,200 and $5,000 for editing, design and distribution services. The venture-backed company, which recently secured $16 million in funding, promises to reduce publishing timelines to two to three weeks while allowing authors to retain full royalties.
Co-founder Yehuda Niv describes Spines as a “publishing platform” rather than self-publishing. The announcement has drawn criticism from industry professionals. Independent publisher Canongate condemned the company for automating book production “with the least possible attention, care or craft.” The Society of Authors urged writers to exercise caution, citing concerns about AI systems potentially trained on unlicensed content.
