The problem is that the suspicions don't necessarily need to be refuted... only explained. A super-intelligent AI is a bit of a god to human eyes, or at least a demi-god. I've said before that half the point of SIAI is to make sure that we create a god we like, and I wasn't really joking (I'm pretty sure I was quoting someone else as well). Likewise, I'm signed up for cryonics specifically because I don't like death, and would prefer to escape it if possible.

So I couldn't honestly refute either accusation, only admit to them and then either brush it off with "it's my crazy thing, we all have our pet crazy thing, right?" if I don't believe getting into the topic will be fruitful with that particular person, or to explain how this is different from superstition and try to reduce the inferential gap.