With　the　continuous　development　of　science　and　technology　in　the　world　today,　artificial　intelligence　is　increasingly　used　in　modern　mechanical　engineering.　In　some　mechanical　design　projects,　artificial　intelligence　has　shown　its　advantages　and　highlighted　its　importance.　To　this　end,　this　article　takes　a　representative　robotic　arm　in　mechanical　engineering　as　an　example.　Based　on　the　analysis　of　the　development　direction　of　artificial　intelligence,　the　path　planning　algorithm　based　on　artificial　intelligence,　the　characteristics　of　the　ant　colony　algorithm,　and　the　mathematical　modeling　of　the　ant　colony　algorithm.　The　ant　colony　algorithm　has　problems　in　the　path　planning　process.　This　paper　proposes　an　optimized　ant　colony　algorithm　path　planning　method.　Through　experiments　and　data　analysis,　it　is　verified　that　the　algorithm　in　this　paper　is　closer　to　the　original　ant　colony　algorithm,　and　the　convergence　speed　of　the　algorithm　is　slower.　Therefore,　the　optimized　ant　colony　algorithm　converges　faster.　©　2022　TSI　Enterprises.