After securing $22.5 million in funding in 2024, AI-powered self-publishing platform Spines has deployed the funds to introduce author voice cloning for audiobooks, expand translation services to seven languages, and grow its author base to more than 6,000 users. The platform published more than 2,000 titles in 2024, up from 400 titles in 2023, and anticipates it will reach 8,000 titles by the end of this year.
The Miami-based company launched in 2021 as a spinoff of Niv Publishing, Israel's main self-publishing platform. Using AI, the platform automates multiple aspects of publishing, including editing, proofreading, cover design, marketing, and distribution across more than 100 retailers. Authors upload manuscripts and receive published books within three weeks, according to the company. Spines offers authors 70% of royalties collected from retailers, with a promotional rate of 100% for the first year. Publication packages range from a few thousand dollars to more than $15,000.
In addition to book production, authors can now create full-length audiobooks narrated in their own voice by providing 33 minutes of audio samples, which the company noted is a significant reduction from the 40-plus hours traditionally required for studio recording.
"We can create a voice model and do the whole audiobook from that," Spines CEO and founder Yehuda Niv told PW in an interview. The voice cloning feature builds on the company's existing audiobook service, which now offers more than 300 artificial voice options. The platform has also implemented AI-assisted proofing. "Our tools can predict where a recording may be at fault, directing where someone can go in and make changes manually," Niv said. "We are now able to save a lot of human labor in creating those audiobooks."
Venture capitalist Michael Eisenberg, investor at Aleph and one of Spines' backers, tested the technology for his forthcoming book. "He sent it to his friends and he told them, 'What do you think about when you're recording?' They actually didn't know it's an AI," Niv said. "Even his wife couldn't tell the difference."
Beyond audiobooks, Spines has implemented what Niv calls an "AI-human hybrid" approach to translation services, supporting Spanish, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and additional languages. "AI for speed, human for quality, because the translations based on AI are not good. They are not that accurate yet," Niv explained. "So we have a man in the loop that reviews."
The translation service represents Spines' effort to help authors "double and quadruple their audience potential because the book is in more languages and in more formats," according to Niv.
Among those backing the company is Oren Zeev, founder and managing partner of Zeev Ventures and an early investor in Audible. "Back in 2003, I saw the untapped potential of audiobooks with Audible, long before they became popular," Zeev said in a statement. "Today, I see a similar transformative power in Spines to reshape the book publishing industry."
Looking ahead, Spines is developing a copilot tool to help authors complete manuscripts. "We want to help people to not only publish their book, but also finish writing their manuscript, because a lot of authors are getting stuck," Niv said. The feature has not yet launched.
Niv also outlined longer-term ambitions to expand beyond books into podcasts and online courses. "Spines is all about helping people leave a legacy," he said. "We started with books because this is the most efficient way to start," but the company eventually aims to become "a platform for creators."
The founder frames Spines' mission as a democratization of publishing, as AI lowers barriers to entry. "With AI, everyone will be able to publish a book," Niv said.
