How the Digital Intelligence Economy Can Promote Regional High-Quality Development Under the Influence of Economic Policy Uncertainty

Against the backdrop of a global economic slowdown, this study examines the impact of the digital intelligence economy on regional high-quality development across 30 Chinese provinces from 2008 to 2022, considering the moderating role of economic policy uncertainty. Using the entropy method to construct composite indicators for the digital intelligence economy and high-quality development, this study applies benchmark regression, mediation analysis, moderation analysis, spatial Durbin models and threshold models. The results show that the digital intelligence economy significantly promotes regional high-quality development through increased innovation investment, enhanced innovation capabilities and entrepreneurship. However, this impact is non-linear: while it initially hinders high-quality development in less developed regions, it becomes beneficial as the economy matures. Economic policy uncertainty negatively moderates this relationship, especially in the more developed eastern regions. Additionally, the digital intelligence economy exhibits positive spatial spillover effects, driving high-quality development in the neighboring areas. The study concludes that policymakers should prioritize digital infrastructure, stabilize economic policies to reduce uncertainty, and promote interregional collaboration to leverage spillover benefits, and tailored strategies are essential to bridge development gaps. This study fills the gap in understanding the interactive effects of the digital intelligence economy and economic policy uncertainty on regional development.