Unique Moto X features.

[Ry]

If you're talking about the Leo Laporte podcast, I heard him saying that very same thing. I experimented and held my phone right up to the speaker and it did not activate it whereas I would say it and it would respond immediately. Granted, this is on a Note 3 with the Google Now launcher; however, I would think that the current Google Now in Lollipop wants you to repeat the phrase 3 times also so it can be trained to your voice.

I'm talking about the greatest Android podcast in the world, the Android Central podcast.

 

[Phenix14]

You can train the OK Google command to your own voice on Kit Kat devices as well. At least since they added the ability to use the command anytime the screen is on. Once you activate the feature it will have you say the command 3 times to train it to your voice.

I know the 2013 Moto X did this as well and people would train it to a custom phrase even though it wasn't officially supported. I haven't tried doing that with Google Now so dunno if it works there...