Honestly IMO fresh wood chips have no role in the vegetable garden for several reasons. So the best thing you can do with it is stockpile it for a year and keep it wet. Makes a great soil amendment and mulch combined for next year.
But I know many don't want to wait that long. So using it for the pathways is fine. Between the plants themselves, not so much. Yes, keep it away from direct contact with the plants but even when it isn't tilled in - which is a big no - it can do some N binding. Of course you can compensate for that by adding extra nitrogen but it complicates the process. Plus it has little moisture retention or weed suppression value.
Plus if this is a bed that will be tilled come fall it will complicate the tilling process and you will have to incorporate a substantial amount of N at the same time.
So your choice but if you have the space and the patience it will pay you back if you can just do the paths this years and stockpile the rest.
Hope this helps.
Dave
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