Are they an ethical alternative to the human version?

I guess it depends if there is an A.I.[1] locked up somewhere in a cage forced to teleoperate it.

[1] actual indian

Well they're not an alternative, so I suppose not. No one is being chained to a desk and made to author reports on how their department is aligning with the new business growth strategy. And the robot slaves aren't being designed to mine precious minerals or attach buttons to clothes.