EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (Details - Pension and Postretirement Plans) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Change in plan assets:
AIG contributions		$ 209	$ 236	$ 166
Pensions | U.S. Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Annual pay credit percentage to be applied to participant's cash balance		6.00%
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	$ 5,091	$ 4,948	5,324
Service cost		11	19	192
Interest cost		166	181	220
Actuarial (gain) loss		372	118
Benefits paid:
AIG assets		(19)	(24)
Plan assets		(161)	(332)
Plan amendment		0	0
Curtailments		0	0
Settlements		(226)	(338)
Foreign exchange effect		0	0
Other		0	0
Projected benefit obligation, end of year		5,091	4,948	5,324
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	4,350	3,843	4,359
Actual return on plan assets, net of expenses		584	154
AIG contributions	64	329	24
AIG assets		(19)	(24)
Plan assets		(161)	(332)
Settlements		(226)	(338)
Foreign exchange effect		0	0
Dispositions		0	0
Other		0	0
Fair value of plan assets, end of year		4,350	3,843	4,359
Funded status, end of year					$ (741)	$ (1,105)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet:
Assets					0	0
Liabilities					(741)	(1,105)
Total amounts recognized					(741)	(1,105)
Pre tax amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Net gain (loss)		(1,373)	(1,405)
Prior service (cost) credit		0	0
Total amounts recognized		(1,373)	(1,405)
Projected benefit obligation	5,091	4,948	4,948	5,324	5,091	4,948
Pensions | U.S. Plans | Non-qualified unfunded plans
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	272	278
Benefits paid:
Projected benefit obligation, end of year		272	278
Pre tax amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Projected benefit obligation	272	$ 272	278		272	278
Pensions | U.S. Plans | Minimum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Requisite service period to participate in the plan		12 months
Period of service after which plan gets vested		3 years
Pensions | U.S. Plans | Maximum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Unreduced benefits, maximum services credited		44 years
Pensions | Non U.S. Plans
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	1,202	$ 1,246	1,146
Service cost		29	31	43
Interest cost		16	21	25
Actuarial (gain) loss		(29)	98
Benefits paid:
AIG assets		(10)	(12)
Plan assets		(26)	(35)
Plan amendment		0	1
Curtailments		(7)	(2)
Settlements		(12)	(16)
Foreign exchange effect		37	19
Other		(42)	(5)
Projected benefit obligation, end of year		1,202	1,246	1,146
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	875	803	773
Actual return on plan assets, net of expenses		67	19
AIG contributions	64	60	71
AIG assets		(10)	(12)
Plan assets		(26)	(35)
Settlements		(12)	(16)
Foreign exchange effect		19	6
Dispositions		0	(4)
Other		(26)	1
Fair value of plan assets, end of year		875	803	773
Funded status, end of year					(327)	(443)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet:
Assets					68	53
Liabilities					(395)	(496)
Total amounts recognized					(327)	(443)
Pre tax amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Net gain (loss)		(170)	(251)
Prior service (cost) credit		(22)	(28)
Total amounts recognized		(192)	(279)
Projected benefit obligation	1,202	1,246	1,246	1,146	1,202	1,246
Pensions | Non U.S. Plans | Non-qualified unfunded plans
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	211	199
Benefits paid:
Projected benefit obligation, end of year		211	199
Pre tax amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Projected benefit obligation	211	$ 211	199		211	199
Postretirement Plans | U.S. Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Eligibility age		55 years
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	190	$ 196	208
Service cost		2	2	5
Interest cost		6	7	8
Actuarial (gain) loss		0	(2)
Benefits paid:
AIG assets		(13)	(14)
Plan assets		0	0
Plan amendment		0	0
Curtailments		0	(1)
Settlements		0	0
Foreign exchange effect		0	0
Other		(1)	(4)
Projected benefit obligation, end of year		190	196	208
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	0	0	0
Actual return on plan assets, net of expenses		0	0
AIG contributions		13	14
AIG assets		(13)	(14)
Plan assets		0	0
Settlements		0	0
Foreign exchange effect		0	0
Dispositions		0	0
Other		0	0
Fair value of plan assets, end of year		0	0	0
Funded status, end of year					(190)	(196)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet:
Assets					0	0
Liabilities					(190)	(196)
Total amounts recognized					(190)	(196)
Pre tax amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Net gain (loss)		17	17
Prior service (cost) credit		1	2
Total amounts recognized		18	19
Projected benefit obligation	190	$ 196	196	208	190	196
Postretirement Plans | U.S. Plans | Minimum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Minimum requisite service period to participate in the plan		10 years
Postretirement Plans | Non U.S. Plans
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	63	$ 80	75
Service cost		3	3	3
Interest cost		3	3	3
Actuarial (gain) loss		(2)	0
Benefits paid:
AIG assets		(1)	(1)
Plan assets		0	0
Plan amendment		(6)	0
Curtailments		0	0
Settlements		0	0
Foreign exchange effect		1	0
Other		(15)	0
Projected benefit obligation, end of year		63	80	75
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	0	0	0
Actual return on plan assets, net of expenses		0	0
AIG contributions		1	1
AIG assets		(1)	(1)
Plan assets		0	0
Settlements		0	0
Foreign exchange effect		0	0
Dispositions		0	0
Other		0	0
Fair value of plan assets, end of year		0	0	0
Funded status, end of year					(63)	(80)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet:
Assets					0	0
Liabilities					(63)	(80)
Total amounts recognized					(63)	(80)
Pre tax amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Net gain (loss)		(11)	(15)
Prior service (cost) credit		5	0
Total amounts recognized		(6)	(15)
Projected benefit obligation	$ 63	$ 80	$ 80	$ 75	$ 63	$ 80