Since the introduction of the "30-60" dual carbon target, industrial intelligence, as a key driver of the new round of technological revolution and industrial change, has played an important role in achieving the "peak carbon and carbon neutral" target in China. Based on the panel data of 30 Chinese provinces (excluding Tibet and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) from 2006 to 2019, a multi-dimensional empirical analysis of the impact of industrial intelligence on China’s industrial carbon emission efficiency and its spatial effects was conducted using fixed-effects, mediated-effects and spatial Durbin models. The study found that: Firstly, industrial intelligence development can improve industrial carbon emission efficiency. Secondly, industrial intelligence can improve industrial carbon emission efficiency by relying on technological progress and suppressing energy intensity. Third, in terms of spatial effects, the development of industrial intelligence can improve industrial carbon emission efficiency in the region, but the spillover and diffusion effects on industrial carbon emission efficiency in the surrounding areas have not yet emerged. Fourthly, there is spatial heterogeneity in the impact of industrial intelligence on industrial carbon emission efficiency, and its development can lead to the improvement of industrial carbon emission efficiency in the eastern region, while its impact on industrial carbon emission in the central and western regions is relatively small. This paper effectively complements the research on the influencing factors of industrial carbon emission efficiency and the research on industrial intelligence, and the conclusions provide a reliable empirical basis for industrial intelligence to drive the improvement of industrial carbon emission efficiency, as well as a policy reference for the green development of industry.