Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2022	Nov. 30, 2021
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 29,366	$ 23,822
Total other comprehensive loss	(10)	(196)
Ending balance	24,582	30,579
Pension/ post-retirement obligations
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(157)	(359)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification adjustments	0	(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(7)	(5)
Tax benefit (provision)	2	1
Total other comprehensive loss	(5)	(5)
Ending balance	(162)	(364)
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(3)	(10)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification adjustments	(2)	1
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	1
Tax benefit (provision)	0	0
Total other comprehensive loss	(2)	1
Ending balance	(5)	(9)
Net investment hedges
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	213	(35)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification adjustments	(39)	53
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	0
Tax benefit (provision)	9	(9)
Total other comprehensive loss	(29)	44
Ending balance	183	9
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1	96
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification adjustments	(1)	450
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	(577)
Tax benefit (provision)	0	31
Total other comprehensive loss	0	(96)
Ending balance	1	0
Share of OCI of equity method investments
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(254)	(29)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification adjustments	(103)	(60)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	110	0
Tax benefit (provision)	(3)	14
Total other comprehensive loss	4	(46)
Ending balance	(250)	(74)
Currency translation adjustments
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,605)	(1,772)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification adjustments	22	(88)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	(4)
Tax benefit (provision)	0	0
Total other comprehensive loss	22	(91)
Ending balance	(2,583)	(1,863)
Total
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,805)	(2,109)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification adjustments	(123)	356
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	103	(585)
Tax benefit (provision)	9	37
Total other comprehensive loss	(11)	(193)
Ending balance	$ (2,815)	$ (2,301)