Building on Arthur Ashkin’s Nobel Prize-winning optical tweezers, which revolutionized biological research through light-based manipulation of microscale matter, we are advancing the next generation of optical manipulation technologies to enable precise control over the motion, interaction, and composition of matter across multiple scales. By harnessing light-induced thermal, chemical, electrical, and acoustic effects, we expand functionality, improve material compatibility, reduce power consumption, and enhance ease of use. These innovations open new frontiers in measurement, manufacturing, active matter systems, and microrobotics.