Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2025	May 31, 2024	May 31, 2025	May 31, 2024
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 7,153	$ 15,192	$ 12,005	$ 28,322
Ending balance	7,209	15,257	7,209	15,257
Total
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,980)	(2,897)	(2,897)	(2,993)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	188	(13)	71	104
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	17	10	63	30
Tax benefit (provision)	(3)	6	(15)	(34)
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	202	3	119	100
Ending balance	(2,778)	(2,894)	(2,778)	(2,894)
Pension/ post-retirement obligations
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(698)	(608)	(706)	(698)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	0	(3)	0	124
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	5	(3)	14	(10)
Tax benefit (provision)	(1)	2	(3)	(30)
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	4	(5)	11	85
Ending balance	(695)	(613)	(695)	(613)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges and other
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(6)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments				0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI				5
Tax benefit (provision)				0
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)				5
Ending balance		0		0
Net investment hedges gain (loss) and other
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	109	85	14	83
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(150)	(13)	(56)	(6)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	3	0	(1)
Tax benefit (provision)	0	3	0	2
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	(150)	(8)	(55)	(6)
Ending balance	(41)	77	(41)	77
Share of OCI of equity method investments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(73)	(100)	(88)	(132)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	11	(16)	(2)	(3)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	12	10	49	39
Tax benefit (provision)	(3)	2	(12)	(6)
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	20	(4)	35	29
Ending balance	(53)	(104)	(53)	(104)
Cumulative translation adjustments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,317)	(2,274)	(2,118)	(2,240)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	327	20	129	(11)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	0	0	(3)
Tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0	0
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	327	20	129	(14)
Ending balance	$ (1,989)	$ (2,254)	$ (1,989)	$ (2,254)