Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2024	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2024	May 31, 2023
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 15,192	$ 29,439	$ 28,322	$ 29,366
Net change in other comprehensive (loss) income	5	121	100	274
Ending balance	15,257	29,359	15,257	29,359
Pension/ post-retirement obligations
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(608)	(167)	(698)	(157)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification adjustments	(3)	0	124	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(3)	(7)	(10)	(20)
Tax benefit (provision)	2	2	(30)	5
Net change in other comprehensive (loss) income	(5)	(5)	85	(15)
Ending balance	(613)	(171)	(613)	(171)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges and other
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(5)	(6)	(2)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification adjustments		(2)	0	(6)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		1	5	2
Tax benefit (provision)		0	0	1
Net change in other comprehensive (loss) income		(1)	5	(4)
Ending balance	0	(6)	0	(6)
Net investment hedges
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	85	140	83	213
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification adjustments	(13)	(42)	(6)	(138)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	3	0	(1)	0
Tax benefit (provision)	3	10	2	33
Net change in other comprehensive (loss) income	(8)	(31)	(6)	(104)
Ending balance	77	108	77	108
Share of OCI of equity method investments
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(100)	(162)	(132)	(254)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification adjustments	(16)	16	(3)	(8)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	10	(1)	39	149
Tax benefit (provision)	2	(4)	(6)	(37)
Net change in other comprehensive (loss) income	(4)	12	29	104
Ending balance	(104)	(150)	(104)	(150)
Cumulative translation adjustments
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,274)	(2,461)	(2,240)	(2,605)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification adjustments	20	143	(11)	301
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	(2)	(3)	(16)
Tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0	0
Net change in other comprehensive (loss) income	20	141	(14)	285
Ending balance	(2,254)	(2,320)	(2,254)	(2,320)
Total
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,897)	(2,654)	(2,993)	(2,805)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification adjustments	(13)	115	104	149
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	10	(9)	30	115
Tax benefit (provision)	6	9	(34)	2
Net change in other comprehensive (loss) income	3	115	100	266
Ending balance	$ (2,894)	$ (2,539)	$ (2,894)	$ (2,539)