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. Our user-friendly techniques 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, enhance material compatibility, and reduce power needs. These innovations open new frontiers in measurement, manufacturing, active matter systems, and microrobotics.