Your ML model cache volume is getting blown up during restart and the model is being re-downloaded during the first search post-restart. Either set it to a path somewhere on your storage, or ensure you’re not blowing up the dynamic volume upon restart.

In my case I changed this:

  immich-machine-learning:
    ...
    volumes:
      - model-cache:/cache

To that:

  immich-machine-learning:
    ...
    volumes:
      - ./cache:/cache

I no longer have to wait uncomfortably long when I’m trying to show off Smart Search to a friend, or just need a meme pronto.