When creating automations, one of the possible actions is “update a field’s value”, “create a new card or record” as well as “create a new connected card or record”. In all three cases, connected database entries can be used as dynamic input for the fields’ values.
But: one cannot use the values of connected pipe’s cards or their fields. I don’t quite understand why and would like to be able to use them.
One can actually use them for autocomplete of new connected cards with the “autofill” feature, but not with automations.