A new publishing startup called Spines has drawn criticism from writers and publishers over its plans to publish 8,000 books in 2025 using artificial intelligence. As reported by Ella Creamer for The Guardian, the company will charge authors between $1,200 and $5,000 for AI-assisted publishing services including proofreading, formatting, and distribution. Industry professionals, including independent publisher Canongate and several authors, have condemned the approach as exploitative. The startup, which recently secured $16 million in funding, claims it will help democratize publishing by allowing authors to retain 100% of their royalties and complete the publishing process within three weeks. However, the Society of Authors warns writers to be cautious about such author-contribute contracts, citing concerns about service quality and AI usage.