Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2021	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2021
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 30,867	$ 21,625	$ 23,822	$ 21,136
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net	(416)	131	(637)	607
Ending balance	30,382	22,596	30,382	22,596
Pension/ post-retirement obligations
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(372)	(739)	(359)	(748)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	0	0	0	16
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(5)	(2)	(16)	(6)
Other			(6)
Tax benefit (provision)	1	0	5	(3)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net	(4)	(1)	(17)	8
Ending balance	(376)	(740)	(376)	(740)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(9)	(18)	(10)	(31)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	4	(3)	5	11
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	1	14	2	16
Other			0
Tax benefit (provision)	(1)	(3)	(1)	(7)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net	4	8	6	21
Ending balance	(5)	(10)	(5)	(10)
Net investment hedges
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(11)	(90)	(35)	(34)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	176	(30)	207	(110)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	0	0	0
Other			0
Tax benefit (provision)	(40)	7	(48)	31
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net	135	(23)	159	(79)
Ending balance	124	(113)	124	(113)
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		0	96	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments		5	450	5
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		0	(577)	0
Other			0
Tax benefit (provision)		0	31	0
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net		5	(96)	5
Ending balance	0	5	0	5
Share of OCI of equity method investments
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(154)	10	(29)	(10)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(48)	2	(213)	21
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	25	0	25	0
Other			0
Tax benefit (provision)	6	(6)	46	(5)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net	(17)	(4)	(143)	16
Ending balance	(171)	6	(171)	6
Cumulative currency translation adjustments
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,782)	(2,469)	(1,772)	(2,948)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(515)	141	(525)	615
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	1	0	6
Other			0
Tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net	(515)	142	(525)	621
Ending balance	(2,297)	(2,327)	(2,297)	(2,327)
Total
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,328)	(3,306)	(2,109)	(3,771)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(383)	115	(77)	558
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	20	13	(566)	17
Other			(6)
Tax benefit (provision)	(34)	(1)	32	17
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net	(397)	127	(616)	591
Ending balance	$ (2,724)	$ (3,180)	$ (2,724)	$ (3,180)