Revolutionizing Publishing: How Yehuda Niv's Spines is Empowering Authors with AI
Yehuda Niv, the visionary CEO and Co-Founder of Spines, is rewriting the rules of the publishing industry. From his humble beginnings as a music-loving teenager in Be'er Sheva, Israel, to becoming the driving force behind the world's first AI-driven publishing platform, Niv's journey is a testament to the power of innovation and perseverance.
In an exclusive interview with AI World Today, Niv shares his remarkable transition from author to tech entrepreneur, shedding light on how Spines is revolutionizing the traditional publishing process. With a keen eye for technological advancements, Niv recognized the potential of AI in publishing long before it became mainstream. "I became interested in AI five years before the market caught on," he reveals, highlighting his foresight in an industry ripe for disruption.
Spines, Niv's brainchild, offers a comprehensive suite of AI-powered publishing tools that streamline every aspect of book creation - from proofreading and formatting to cover design and marketing. This groundbreaking platform is not just changing how books are published; it's democratizing the entire process, making it accessible to aspiring authors worldwide.
Could you start by introducing yourself and giving us a brief overview of your journey from author to founder of Spines?
I was born and raised in Be’er Sheva, a city in southern Israel often seen as part of the country’s periphery. I attended a military boarding school run by the Israeli Air Force, but my real passion, even back then, was music. I spent much of my teenage years writing songs—often feeling like the only one who truly believed in them. That creative outlet eventually evolved into something unexpected: I started writing a book. What began as a personal project grew into something much bigger, and that first step as an author is what ultimately led me down the path to founding Spines.
What was the pivotal moment that inspired you to create Spines, and how does it differ from your previous venture, Niv Publishing?
When I published my first book, I quickly ran into the harsh realities of an industry that hadn’t changed in a hundred years. That frustration became fuel—I founded Niv Publishing to give authors more control and a real chance at success. Over the next decade, it grew into the largest publishing house in Israel, responsible for 15% of all new titles in the country. But after eleven years, I realized that meaningful, global change in publishing wouldn’t come from doing the same thing better — it would require rethinking the system entirely. That realization is what sparked Spines: a platform built from the ground up with technology at its core, designed to break barriers and open publishing to everyone.
Can you explain how Spines is revolutionizing the traditional publishing process?
For more than a hundred years, the publishing industry has operated in pretty much the same way—slow, expensive, and inaccessible. Self-publishing authors, in particular, are left to navigate a maze of costly services, long timelines, and very little support when it comes to actually earning from their work. Spines changes that completely. We’ve cut the publishing timeline from six months to under three weeks, slashed costs by more than half, and built an end-to-end platform that supports authors at every stage—from proofreading and cover design to distribution and marketing. It’s not just faster or more affordable — it’s a fundamentally smarter way to publish.
What are the key technological innovations that Spines brings to the publishing industry?
My path into AI started with frustration—as an author, I saw firsthand how outdated and inaccessible the publishing world had become. That led me to launch Niv Publishing, which grew to become Israel’s largest publishing house, responsible for 15% of all new books in the country. But after more than a decade, it became clear that real transformation wouldn’t come from working within the system—it needed a technological leap. That’s what inspired Spines.
Spines is powered by generative AI that automates every step of the publishing process—proofreading, formatting, cover design, distribution, even marketing. Authors simply upload their manuscript, and within three weeks, their book is professionally produced and available worldwide. In addition, the technology makes it easy to update book versions, relieving stress for many authors who appreciate the ability to revise their work later on. The process is fast, affordable, and designed to remove the barriers that have held authors back for far too long. With AI at the core, we’ve rebuilt publishing to put creators in control.
How does Spines address the common challenges faced by self-publishing authors?
Self-publishing has long been a tough road—expensive, time-consuming, and overwhelming. Authors often spend months juggling fragmented services just to get a book out, only to find themselves stuck again when it comes to marketing and monetization. Spines turns that on its head. We’ve streamlined the entire process, cutting publishing time from six months to under three weeks and slashing costs by more than 50%. Every stage—audiobook, design, distribution, and promotion—is handled in one seamless platform, giving authors the freedom to focus on their writing while we take care of the rest.
Could you walk us through the process an author experiences when using the Spines platform?
Using Spines is as simple as it gets—authors upload their self-written manuscript, and within three weeks, their book is professionally published, optimized, and available to readers around the world. Behind the scenes, Spines handles everything: proofreading, formatting, cover design, distribution, and marketing—all powered by AI. Although technology plays a major role in the publishing process, the author remains in full control, continuously reviewing each step to ensure their voice and tone are preserved. It’s the only fully integrated platform that streamlines the entire publishing process, so authors can stop worrying about logistics and get back to what they do best: writing great stories.
With the rapid growth you've experienced, what has been the biggest challenge in scaling Spines?
Scaling Spines hasn’t just been about technology—it’s been about changing perceptions. The biggest challenge we’ve faced is the misunderstanding around AI. When people hear we use AI in publishing, they often assume we’re replacing authors with machines. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Our mission is to empower human authors—to help a million writers bring their stories to life by taking the complexity and cost out of publishing.
Because the publishing industry is steeped in tradition, it naturally views disruption with skepticism. Spines is often seen as a threat to the old model. But I see that resistance as a sign we’re doing something meaningful. Innovation always challenges the status quo—just as YouTube didn’t replace the television and music industries , it expanded how we create and consume video and music. I believe there will always be a place for traditional publishing, but there also needs to be room for new voices. Spines exists to serve the authors who’ve been overlooked for too long—and we’re just getting started.
How do you see Spines impacting the future of the publishing industry?
Every year, around two million books are published in the U.S.—but that’s only a fraction of what’s written. I believe for every book that makes it to print, there are at least nine others left behind in drawers, unpublished and unseen. Traditional publishers accept only a sliver of submissions, usually from known names, while self-publishing often overwhelms authors with steep costs, endless timelines, and logistical headaches. It’s no wonder so many give up before their stories ever reach readers.
I've seen this firsthand at Niv Publishing, my self-publishing house. We represent more best-selling authors in Israel than any other, largely because we give a voice to those overlooked by traditional publishers. There's no single formula to predict which books will become bestsellers—so the more voices we empower, the more great books we uncover.
That’s the problem Spines is here to solve. By eliminating the barriers—financial, logistical, and emotional—we’re giving authors a real shot at bringing their work to life. I believe Spines will redefine the future of publishing by opening the door for millions of voices that were previously locked out. Our goal is simple but powerful: to make publishing possible for anyone with a story to tell.
Can you share some success stories of authors who have used Spines?
One of the stories that has stayed with me most comes from a mother of three, Erica Marom, who had always dreamed of becoming an author but never knew where to start. Like so many aspiring writers, she had a computer full of ideas and half-written manuscripts—but the traditional publishing world felt impossible to break into. Finding an agent, securing a publisher—it all felt out of reach.
Then she found Spines. With our platform, she turned one of her stories into a published children’s book, dedicated to her sons. It was inspired by the bittersweet experience of watching her oldest grow up—a deeply personal project that she feared might never leave her hard drive. But in her words, publishing through Spines was “the easiest thing ever.” When she held her finished book for the first time, she told us her heart was “bursting with joy.”
That’s why we built Spines—to make moments like that possible. We exist to unlock creativity, remove barriers, and help people turn their stories into something real.
Lastly, what advice would you give to aspiring authors who are considering using a platform like Spines?
My advice to aspiring authors is simple: don’t fear AI—embrace it. In any creative industry, those who ignore emerging tools risk being left behind. The publishing world is still adjusting to the idea of AI, but history shows us that resistance to innovation is nothing new. There was a time when newspapers were laid out by hand with metal blocks—a laborious process no one misses today. This innovation did not “kill” the printed newspapers, they still exist today. In the same way, AI is simply the next evolution in publishing, one that removes friction without compromising creativity.
That said, the key is using AI thoughtfully. At Spines, we’re constantly asking not whether to use automation, but how to use it ethically and in service of authors. Great books are more than products—they’re vessels of human emotion, insight, and storytelling. No algorithm can replicate that. What AI can do is eliminate the slow, costly, technical barriers that hold writers back. Our goal is to let authors focus on their voice, their story, their art—while we take care of the rest.
Yehuda Niv's vision for Spines goes beyond mere technological innovation; it's about breaking down barriers and empowering voices that have long been silenced by traditional publishing norms. As AI continues to reshape industries, Spines stands at the forefront of a publishing revolution, promising a future where every story has the chance to be told. With Niv at the helm, the world of publishing is not just evolving - it's being entirely reimagined.