diff --git a/mobile/lib/services/machine_learning/machine_learning_controller.dart b/mobile/lib/services/machine_learning/machine_learning_controller.dart
index 65daf614ce..5b4097874e 100644
--- a/mobile/lib/services/machine_learning/machine_learning_controller.dart
+++ b/mobile/lib/services/machine_learning/machine_learning_controller.dart
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import "dart:io";
 
 import "package:battery_info/battery_info_plugin.dart";
 import "package:battery_info/model/android_battery_info.dart";
+import "package:flutter/foundation.dart" show kDebugMode;
 import "package:logging/logging.dart";
 import "package:photos/core/event_bus.dart";
 import "package:photos/events/machine_learning_control_event.dart";
@@ -17,7 +18,8 @@ class MachineLearningController {
 
   static const kMaximumTemperature = 42; // 42 degree celsius
   static const kMinimumBatteryLevel = 20; // 20%
-  static const kDefaultInteractionTimeout = Duration(seconds: 15);
+  static const kDefaultInteractionTimeout =
+      kDebugMode ? Duration(seconds: 1) : Duration(seconds: 5);
   static const kUnhealthyStates = ["over_heat", "over_voltage", "dead"];
 
   bool _isDeviceHealthy = true;