Mac users are seeing beachballs and sluggishness after updating to macOS 26.5.
Apple’s latest AI feature, Apple Intelligence, automatically scans the Photos library in the background. The scan taxes the CPU and GPU, leading to momentary freezes and higher power draw. A handful of forum posts and telemetry logs show the scanner running even when the library isn’t actively used, and the issue appears most often on older Intel‑based Macs.
If the scanner is the cause, the problem highlights a trade‑off between on‑device AI conveniences and system responsiveness. Developers may need to add throttling hooks, and power‑conscious users might have to disable the feature until Apple refines its scheduling.
For now, the only work‑around is to turn off Apple Intelligence in System Settings or wait for a patch that better respects idle resources.