BookExpo365 announces always-on AI book discovery platform

BookExpo365 announced an AI-powered platform intended to keep books and authors visible after the usual burst of launch publicity, offering always-on digital booths, automated reader interaction and recommendation tools. The company opened a founding-launch pilot for up to 10 authors or publishers, who can receive complimentary Virtual Book Booths. Announced Sept. 24, the platform is powered by AI X Network and HE365. BookExpo365 presents its model as a continuous cycle of “Launch → Discover → Engage → Match → Recommend → Connect → Grow,” designed to shift promotion from a short campaign toward an ongoing relationship with readers and industry contacts. The Virtual Book Booth is the platform’s central product. It can include an AI Digital Twin grounded in an author’s book, knowledge and approved content, allowing visitors to ask questions, view videos and other resources, and identify next steps while the author is offline. The company said the Digital Twin and AI Assistant are designed to provide 24/7 engagement using approved material. It also offers HeyGen AI Video for trailers, author introductions, interviews and other promotional videos. Other functions include AI Matchmaking, which is intended to identify relevant connections among authors, readers, publishers, media, podcasters, bookstores and potential partners. Smart Recommendations can surface books, people, events, content and opportunities, while conversational AI Search and Discovery covers participating books, authors and resources. BookExpo365 also supports virtual and hybrid launches, interviews, readings, panels, workshops and publisher showcases. Its Teleport Network Passport is intended to extend a participating author’s presence into selected AI X Network communities: Startup365, LocalBiz365, GlobalTrade365 and StayHealthy365. Matt Fok, founder of AI X Network, said a launch should begin rather than end an author’s journey, and that the product was built to keep writers discoverable and connected after launch day. G. Mick Smith said the service gives authors an always-on opportunity to build authority, broaden reach and connect with audiences globally. The company said a reader could discover a book, interact with its AI Digital Twin, receive a recommendation and then connect with the author or another participant. It said those interactions may also reveal media, speaking, partnership or community opportunities. The pilot is limited by fit, content readiness and onboarding capacity. BookExpo365 is seeking collaborators including publishers, publishing associations, bookstores, libraries, universities, book clubs, media organisations, podcasters, sponsors and strategic partners. Separately, a five-year Independent Book Publishers Association PubSpot analysis found that discoverability strategies have changed markedly since 2020. It identified metadata quality, broad distribution combined with targeted marketing, and professionalisation of indie publishing as major trends, arguing that discoverability often happens system-to-system before person-to-person. That analysis found the share of indie publications carrying two BISAC subjects rose from 80% in 2020 to 87% in 2025, while the share with three subjects increased from 66% to 77%. It also found that the top 10 retailers’ market share had fallen 7% since 2023 as average annual sales by channel rose 18%, with independent booksellers, local retailers, events and specialised online retailers gaining share. The PubSpot review said successful indie publishers increasingly use coordinated launch timelines of three to six months, including advance reader copies, review campaigns, preorders and launch timing tailored to market conditions. It concluded that discoverability in 2026 depends on systematic work, measurement and adaptation rather than chance.