Contract Assets (GE) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Contract Assets [Line Items]
Deferred inventory costs	$ 3,709	$ 3,349
Non-recurring engineering costs	2,253	2,185
Other	1,036	1,018
Contract assets	27,382	25,162
GE
Contract Assets [Line Items]
Long-term revenue in excess of billings	20,384	18,611
GE | Equipment Contract
Contract Assets [Line Items]
Long-term revenue in excess of billings	6,190	5,859
GE | Product Service Agreements
Contract Assets [Line Items]
Long-term revenue in excess of billings	$ 14,194	$ 12,752