'GUI-driven' originates from the combination of 'GUI' (Graphical User Interface) and 'driven,' where 'GUI' refers to a visual way of interacting with a computer using items like windows, icons, and menus, and 'driven' implies being controlled or operated by.

The term 'GUI' emerged in the 1970s with the development of graphical interfaces, and 'driven' has been used in English since the 14th century to imply control or operation.

Initially, 'driven' meant 'propelled or moved by force,' but in modern usage, it often implies being controlled or operated by a specific mechanism or system.