No, and it makes no sense.
No matter what, you have to loop in disguise to achieve traversal.

$a=array_map($a,function($val){
    $val['b']=99;
    return $val;
})

For another method, even if you don’t need a loop, then that method must also use a loop

SoChange the soup but not the medicine

The order upstairs is messed up. It should be array_map(function,$arr);
In fact, what you said upstairs is correct. Built-in functions need to traverse the entire array. How should you use built-in functions to solve your problem?

$a=array_map(function($val){
    $val['b']='99';
    return $val;
},$a);

Boring, not grasping the big picture, getting hung up on minutiae. So I’m bored too, haha

    $arr = [
        '0' => [
            'a' => '11',
            'b' => '22',
            'c' => '33'
        ],
        '1' => [
            'a' => '44',
            'b' => '55',
            'c' => '66'
        ]
    ];
    
    $arr   = json_encode($arr);
    
    $match = preg_replace('/"b":"(.+?)"/', '"b":"99"', $arr);
    
    var_dump(json_decode($match, true));

Convert to string + regular match and replace?