We integrate innovations in both manipulation by light and manipulation of light with AI to advance spectroscopy, microscopy, and mechanoscopy. Using standard optical microscopy, we achieve high-efficiency volumetric imaging and accurate classification of cells and organisms. Our mechanoscopy tools, including adhesion frequency assays, quantify dynamic cell-cell interactions, cell-substrate adhesion, receptor-ligand binding forces, and other mechanical properties at the single-molecule and cellular level. In addition, we develop chiroptical spectroscopy systems for label-free, highly sensitive enantiodiscrimination.