Digital intelligence, as a core driving force leading the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, is regarded as an important lever for promoting coordinated regional development. Based on panel data from 279 Chinese cities spanning the period from 2011 to 2023, the impact effects and underlying mechanisms of digital intelligence on coordinated regional development were empirically examined using a double machine learning model. It is found that digital intelligence significantly promotes coordinated regional development, and this overall effect is notably stronger than the individual effects of digitalization or intelligence alone. Mechanism tests reveal that digital intelligence indirectly facilitates coordinated regional development by enhancing regional innovation capacity and optimizing regional industrial structures. Moderating effect analysis indicates that government intervention contributes to mitigating the digital divide, thereby strengthening the positive effect of digital intelligence on coordinated regional development. Heterogeneity tests demonstrate that the promotional effect of digital intelligence is influenced by geographical conditions and socioeconomic development levels, and it is found to be more pronounced in the eastern region, the western region, and areas with relatively lower levels of economic development. Further analysis shows that digital intelligence not only promotes overall regional economic growth but also helps narrow the development gap between "core" and "peripheral" cities. The above study reveals the internal logic of empowering coordinated regional development through digital and intelligent transformation, providing empirical evidence and policy references for advancing such transformation in a context-specific manner, optimizing government regulation methods, and addressing regional development imbalances. It holds significant theoretical value and practical implications for achieving high-quality regional economic development.