Ok, I finally understand what the change to Google search did.
When you launch Google Now - even prior to this update - it would recognize that you were dictating a search command when you spoke the word "Google". Theoretically. What the new update added is, after you have performed a search of any kind with the Google Search app, whether dictated or typed, and are looking at the results of the search in the Google Search app - you can now dictate a new query by saying "OK Google". You could not do that before with the prior release - you had to touch the microphone control in the search box to voice dictate another query.
But, again - this has nothing to do with Touchless Controls on the Maxx/Ultra/Mini/X. To invoke touchless control you still have to train it to respond to a spoken "OK Google Now." Theoretically, as plenty of people report training a different phrase successfully.